paragraph

• POS: Noun, Verb (transitive)
• HYPHEN: par=a=graph

CIDE DICTIONARY

paragraph, n. [F. paragraphe, LL. paragraphus, fr. Gr. para`grafos (sc. grammh`) a line or stroke drawn in the margin, fr. paragra`fein to write beside; para` beside + gra`fein to write. See Para-, and Graphic, and cf. Paraph.].

•  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 1913 Webster]

  " This character is merely a modification of a capital P (the initial of the word paragraph), the letter being reversed, and the black part made white and the white part black for the sake of distinctiveness."  [1913 Webster]
•  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 indentation{4}.
•  A brief composition complete in one typographical section or paragraph; an item, remark, or quotation comprised in a few lines forming one paragraph; as, a column of news paragraphs; an editorial paragraph.  [1913 Webster]

paragraph, v. t. 

•  To divide into paragraphs; to mark with the character 1913 Webster]
•  To express in the compass of a paragraph; as, to paragraph an article.  [1913 Webster]
•  To mention in a paragraph or paragraphs  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

paragraph, n. & v.
--n.
1 a distinct section of a piece of writing, beginning on a new usu. indented line.
2 a symbol (usu. X!X!) used to mark a new paragraph, and also as a reference mark.
3 a short item in a newspaper, usu. of only one paragraph.
--v.tr. arrange (a piece of writing) in paragraphs.

Derivative

paragraphic adj.

Etymology

F paragraphe or med.L paragraphus f. Gk paragraphos short stroke marking a break in sense (as PARA-(1), grapho write)

THESAURUS

paragraph

adjectival phrase, article, back matter, book, causerie, chapter, clause, column, conceive, construction, couch, couch in terms, descant, discourse, discussion, disquisition, dissertation, embody in words, essay, etude, examination, excursus, exposition, express, expression, fascicle, feature, first approach, folio, formularize, formulate, frame, front matter, gathering, give expression to, give words to, headed group, homily, idiom, idiotism, installment, introductory study, livraison, locution, lucubration, manner of speaking, memoir, monograph, morceau, note, noun phrase, number, outline, page, pandect, paper, part, passage, peculiar expression, period, phrasal idiom, phrase, piece, preliminary study, present, prolegomenon, put, put in words, research paper, rhetorize, screed, section, sentence, serial, set out, set phrase, sheet, signature, sketch, special article, standard phrase, state, study, style, survey, syntactic structure, term, term paper, text, theme, thesis, tract, tractate, treatise, treatment, turn of expression, turn of phrase, usage, utterance, verb complex, verb phrase, verbalism, verse, volume, way of speaking, word, word-group

ROGET THESAURUS

paragraph

Phrase

N phrase, expression, set phrase, sentence, paragraph, figure of speech, idiom, idiotism, turn of expression, style, paraphrase, periphrase, motto, phraseology, expressed, idiomatic, in round terms, in set terms, in good set terms, set terms, in set phrases.

Book

N booklet, writing, work, volume, tome, opuscule, tract, tractate, livret, brochure, libretto, handbook, codex, manual, pamphlet, enchiridion, circular, publication, chap book, part, issue, number livraison, album, portfolio, periodical, serial, magazine, ephemeris, annual, journal, paper, bill, sheet, broadsheet, leaf, leaflet, fly leaf, page, quire, ream, chapter, section, head, article, paragraph, passage, clause, endpapers, frontispiece, cover, binding, folio, quarto, octavo, duodecimo, sextodecimo, octodecimo, encyclopedia, encompilation, library, bibliotheca, press, definitive work, treatise, comprehensive treatise (dissertation), writer, author, litterateur, essayist, journalism, pen, scribbler, the scribbling race, literary hack, Grub-street writer, writer for the press, gentleman of the press, representative of the press, adjective jerker, diaskeaust, ghost, hack writer, ink slinger, publicist, reporter, penny a liner, editor, subeditor, playwright, poet, bookseller, publisher, bibliopole, bibliopolist, librarian, bookstore, bookshop, bookseller's shop, knowledge of books, bibliography, book learning, among the giant fossils of my past, craignez tout d'un auteur en courroux, for authors nobler palms remain, I lived to write and wrote to live, look in thy heart and write, there is no Past so long as Books shall live, the public mind is the creation of the Master-Writ, volumes that I prize above my dukedom.

Part

N part, portion, dose, item, particular, aught, any, division, ward, subdivision, section, chapter, clause, count, paragraph, verse, article, passage, sector, segment, fraction, fragment, cantle, frustum, detachment, parcel, piece, lump, bit cut, cutting, chip, chunk, collop, slice, scale, lamina, small part, morsel, particle, installment, dividend, share, debris, odds and ends, oddments, detritus, excerpta, member, limb, lobe, lobule, arm, wing, scion, branch, bough, joint, link, offshoot, ramification, twig, bush, spray, sprig, runner, leaf, leaflet, stump, component part, sarmentum, compartment, department, county, fractional, fragmentary, sectional, aliquot, divided, in compartments, multifid, disconnected, partial, partly, in part, partially, piecemeal, part by part, by by installments, by snatches, by inches, by driblets, bit by bit, inch by inch, foot by foot, drop by drop, in detail, in lots.

Information

N information, enlightenment, acquaintance, knowledge, publicity, data, communication, intimation, notice, notification, enunciation, annunciation, announcement, communiqu_e, representation, round robin, presentment, case, estimate, specification, report, advice, monition, news, return, account, statement, mention, acquainting, instruction, outpouring, intercommunication, communicativeness, informant, authority, teller, intelligencer, reporter, exponent, mouthpiece, informer, eavesdropper, delator, detective, sleuth, mouchard, spy, newsmonger, messenger, amicus curiae, valet de place, cicerone, pilot, guide, guidebook, handbook, vade mecum, manual, map, plan, chart, gazetteer, itinerary, hint, suggestion, innuendo, inkling, whisper, passing word, word in the ear, subaudition, cue, byplay, gesture, gentle hint, broad hint, verbum sapienti, a word to the wise, insinuation, information theory, bit, byte, word, doubleword, quad word, paragraph, segment, magnetic media, paper medium, optical media, random access memory, RAM, read-only memory, ROM, write once read mostly memory, WORM, informed, communique, reported, published, expressive, explicit plain spoken, (artless), nuncupative, nuncupatory, declaratory, expository, enunciative, communicative, communicatory, from information received, a little bird told me, I heard it through the grapevine.