paragraph
/ˈpæɹəɡɹɑːf/
Word Rarity
Uncommon
Frequency: Zipf frequency 4.03 in modern English
17
Scrabble Score
9
Letters
3
Syllables
5
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
A passage in text that starts on a new line, the first line sometimes being indented, and usually marks a change of topic.
noun
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
An offset of 16 bytes in Intel memory architectures.
Example Sentences
- "opening paragraph"
- "final paragraph"
- "paragraph heading"
- "Divide the writing into paragraphs."
- "All which land, and all other that shall be possessed in the said Province, are to be held on the same terms and conditions as is before mentioned, and as hereafter in the following paragraphs is more at large express'd."
- "She glanced over a story very rapidly, and if it had too many solid, page-long paragraphs—reflections, descriptions, etc.—she put it sadly but steadfastly aside. If, on the contrary, it was well broken up into conversations, which always impart an air of sprightliness to a book, she said she was sure she would like it, and carried it off in triumph."
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.
Origin
Word Breakdown
- Root: paragraf, paragraphe, paragraphus, παράγραφος
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /ˈpæɹəɡɹɑːf/
- British English: /ˈpæɹəɡɹɑːf/
Usage
Inflected Forms
Derived Forms
Phrases
Frequently Paired Words
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