different between prosaic vs stodgy

English

Etymology

From Middle French prosaïque, from Medieval Latin prosaicus (“in prose”), from Latin prosa (“prose”), from prorsus (“straightforward, in prose”), from Old Latin provorsus (“straight ahead”), from pro- (“forward”) + vorsus (“turned”), from vert? (“to turn”), from Proto-Indo-European *wer- (“to turn, to bend”).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /p????ze?.?k/
• (US) IPA^(key): /p?o??ze?.?k/
• Rhymes: -e??k

Adjective

prosaic (comparative more prosaic, superlative most prosaic)

1. Pertaining to or having the characteristics of prose.

   Antonym: poetic

2. (of writing or speaking) Straightforward; matter-of-fact; lacking the feeling or elegance of poetry.

3. (main usage, usually of writing or speaking but also figurative) Overly plain, simple or commonplace, to the point of being boring.

   Synonyms: humdrum, dull, unimaginative; see also Thesaurus:boring

   • 1931, H. P. Lovecraft, The Whisperer in Darkness, chapter 6:

     Their steepness and abruptness were even greater than I had imagined from hearsay, and suggested nothing in common with the prosaic objective world we know.

Related terms

• prosaically
• prosaicness
• prose

Translations

Anagrams

• Caprios, ipocras, picaros

English

Etymology

Unknown, but possibly from stodge (“to stuff”), from stog, or a blend of stuffy +? podgy.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) enPR: st??j?, IPA^(key): /?st?.d??i/
• Rhymes: -?d?i

Adjective

stodgy (comparative stodgier or more stodgy, superlative stodgiest or most stodgy)

1. (of food) Having a thick, semi-solid consistency; glutinous; heavy on the stomach.
2. Dull, old-fashioned.
   • 2013, Daniel Taylor, Rickie Lambert's debut goal gives England victory over Scotland (in The Guardian, 14 August 2013)[1]

     The Southampton striker, who also struck a post late on, was being serenaded by the Wembley crowd before the end and should probably brace himself for some Lambert-mania over the coming days but, amid the eulogies, it should not overlook the deficiencies that were evident in another stodgy England performance.

   • 1915, W.S. Maugham, "Of Human Bondage":

     "What's the matter with you?" -- "Nothing. I'm sorry to be so damned emotional, but for six months I've been starved for beauty." -- "You used to be so matter of fact. It's very interesting to hear you say that." -- "Damn it all, I don't want to be interesting," laughed Philip. "Let's go and have a stodgy tea."

3. (dated) Badly put together.

Derived terms

• stodgily
• stodginess

Translations