caesura

The definition of a caesura is a break or pause, generally in a speech, song, poem.

(noun)

An example of a caesura is a stop in a speech for a few seconds for a dramatic effect.

See caesura in Webster's New World College Dictionary

a break or pause in a line of verse: in Greek and Latin verse, the caesura falls within the metrical foot; in English verse, it is usually about the middle of the line and is shown in scanning by the sign ∥
Music a break or pause in the meter of a composition

Origin: L, a cutting < pp. of caedere, to cut down: see -cide

Related Forms:

See caesura in American Heritage Dictionary 4

also ce·su·ra

noun pl. cae·su·ras also ce·su·ras or cae·su·rae also ce·su·rae (-zho͝orˈē, -zo͝orˈē)

A pause in a line of verse dictated by sense or natural speech rhythm rather than by metrics.
A pause or interruption, as in conversation: After another weighty caesura the senator resumed speaking.
In Latin and Greek prosody, a break in a line caused by the ending of a word within a foot, especially when this coincides with a sense division.
Music A pause or breathing at a point of rhythmic division in a melody.

Origin:

Origin: Latin caesūra, a cutting

Origin: , from caesus

Origin: , past participle of caedere, to cut off; see kaə-id- in Indo-European roots

Related Forms: