paragraph
UK /ˈpæɹəɡɹɑːf/ · US /ˈpæɹəɡɹæf/ noun, verb
Forms paragraphs paragraphing paragraphed
- noun A passage in text that starts on a new line, the first line sometimes being indented, and usually marks a change of topic. “opening paragraph”
- noun (originally) A mark or note set in the margin to call attention to something in the text, such as a change of subject.
- noun A brief article, notice, or announcement, as in a newspaper.
- noun (computing) An offset of 16 bytes in Intel memory architectures.
- verb (transitive) To sort text into paragraphs.
- verb (transitive, journalism) To publish a brief article, notice, or announcement, as in a newspaper.
Etymology
From Middle English paragraf, from Middle French paragraphe from Latin paragraphus (“sign for start of a new section of discourse”), from Ancient Greek παράγραφος (parágraphos), from παρά (pará, “beside”) and γράφω (gráphō, “to write”). Doublet of paragraphos.
Webster’s 1913
- noun Originally, a marginal mark or note, set in the margin to call attention to something in the text, e. g., a change of subject; now, the character
- noun A distinct part of a discourse or writing; any section or subdivision of a writing or chapter which relates to a particular point, whether consisting of one or many sentences. The division is sometimes noted by the mark
- verb To divide into paragraphs; to mark with the character .
- verb To express in the compass of a paragraph; as, to paragraph an article.
Etymology [F. paragraphe, LL. paragraphus, fr. Gr. Para-, and Graphic, and cf. Paraph.]
Sources: Wiktionary · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “paragraph”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details