Also verse man, verse-men. [f. as prec. + MAN sb.] A man who writes verse; a versemaker; a poet, esp. (in recent use) a minor poet or versifier.
1652. Gaule, Magastrom., 235. To conclude, all the antient verse men consent in this.
1718. Prior, Better Answer, v. The God of us Verse-men (you know Child) the Sun.
1733. [see PROSEMAN].
1779. Johnson, L. P., Prior, ¶ 13. When the battle of Blenheim called forth all the versemen.
1847. L. Hunt, Men, Women, & B., I. xv. 300. Even miserly Pulteney was a verseman.
1883. Pall Mall G., 30 Oct., 5/1. Almost alone among recent English versemen, he preserves … a fine-gentlemanly air of urbanity.
1892. A. Dodson, 18th Cent. Vignettes, 171. Madrigalists and minor versemen.
Hence Versemanship, verse-making. rare–1.
1762. J. Wilkes, N. Briton, No. 22. The dull mechanical part of versemanship indeed is found, but the spirit of true poetry is wanting.
