[NPPF] Canto Three: The Worm and Poetry

[s~Z]

verse

PRONUNCIATION:   vûrs
NOUN: 1. a. A single metrical line in a poetic composition; one line of
poetry. b. A division of a metrical composition, such as a stanza of a poem
or hymn. c. A poem. 2. Metrical or rhymed composition as distinct from
prose; poetry. 3a. The art or work of a poet.

ETYMOLOGY: Middle English vers, from Old English fersand from Old French
vers, both from Latin versus, from past participle of vertere, to turn. See
wer-2 in Appendix I.
http://www.bartleby.com/61/95/V0069500.html

ENTRY: wer-2
DEFINITION: Conventional base of various Indo-European roots; to turn, bend.

I. Root *wert-, to turn, wind. 4. versatile, verse, version, versus,
vertebra, vertex, vertigo, vortex; adverse, anniversary, avert,
bouleversement, controversy, converse1, convert, dextrorse, divert, evert,
extrorse, extroversion, extrovert, introrse, introvert, invert,
malversation, obvert, peevish, pervert, prose, retrorse, revert,
sinistrorse, subvert, tergiversate, transverse, universe, from Latin
vertere, to turn, with its frequentative versre, to turn, and passive versr,
to stay, behave (< "to move around a place, frequent"). 5. verst, from
Russian versta, line, from Balto-Slavic *wirst-, a turn, bend.

IX. Root *wmi-, worm; rhyme word to kwmi-. 1. worm, from Old English wyrm,
worm, from Germanic *wurmiz. 2. vermeil, vermi-, vermicelli, vermicular,
vermin, from Latin vermis, worm. (Pokorny 3. er- 1152.)
http://www.bartleby.com/61/roots/IE571.html

vermiculate

TRANSITIVE VERB:
To adorn or decorate with wavy or winding lines.
ADJECTIVE: (-lt, -lt)1. Bearing wavy, wormlike lines. 2. Having a wormlike
motion; twisting or wriggling. 3. Sinuous; tortuous. 4. Infested with worms;
worm-eaten.

Pale Fire is vermiculate verse - bent, sinister, and full of wyrms.

To every thing, turn, turn, turn
There is a season, turn, turn, turn
And a time to every purpose under heaven