| 释义 |
▪ I. cæsura|siːˈzjʊərə, siːˈsjʊərə|
Forms: 6 cesure, 7 ceasure, 8–9 cæsure, 6– cæsura.
[a. L. cæsūra ‘cutting, metrical pause’, f. cæs- ppl. stem of cædĕre to cut. The earlier form was immediately from French césure. (Some writers appear to have erroneously associated it with cease.)]
1. In Greek and Latin prosody: The division of a metrical foot between two words, especially in certain recognized places near the middle of the line.
In Dactylic Hexameter and Iambic Trimeter this usually occurs in the third foot (penthemimeral cæsura), but there may be subsidiary cæsuras as well; in the line Tityre {vb} tu patu {vb} -læ recu {vb} -bans sub {vb} tegmine {vb} fagi, the main (penthemimeral) cæsura is after -læ, and there are subsidiary ones after tu and -ans.
[1573Cooper Thesaur., Cæsura..a peece of a sentence or verse.] 1727–51Chambers Cycl., Cæsura more properly denotes a certain and agreeable division of the words, between the feet of a verse; whereby the last syllable of a word becomes the first of a foot. 1871Roby Lat. Gram. i. 96 Occasionally..a short final closed syllable is lengthened by the arsis..this is chiefly in the cæsura. 1876Kennedy Public Sch. Lat. Gram. §260 This verse of Lucretius, Auges {vb} -cunt ali {vb} -æ gen {vb} -tes ali {vb} -æ minu {vb} -untur, in which are four strong cæsuras, is faulty. 1884Monro Homer's Iliad Introd. §50 The third foot must not end with a word..such a break in the middle of the line is prevented by a Cæsura.
b. Used for the lengthening of the last syllable of a word by arsis which sometimes occurs in the cæsura.
1678Phillips, Cæsura, an accident belonging to the scanning of a Latin Verse, as when after a compleat foot a short syllable ends the Verse, that syllable is made long, as in this Verse of Virgil: Ille latus niveum molli fultus hyacintho. 1755Johnson, Cæsura, a figure in poetry, by which a short syllable after a complete foot is made long.
2. In English prosody: A pause or breathing-place about the middle of a metrical line, generally indicated by a pause in the sense.
1556Abp. Parker Psalter A ij, Obserue the trayne: the ceasure marke To rest with note in close. 1581Sidney Def. Poesie (1622) 529 The Cæsura, or breathing place in the midst of the verse. 1589Puttenham Eng. Poesie (Arb.) 88 Such Cesure must neuer be made in the middest of any word, if it be well appointed. 1603Drayton Odes ii. 40 That ev'ry lively Ceasure Shall tread a perfect Measure. 1751Chambers Cycl., Caesure, in the modern poetry denotes a rest or pause towards the middle of a long Alexandrine verse. 1841D'Israeli Amen. Lit. (1867) 170 In the most ancient manuscripts of Chaucer's works the cæsura in every line is carefully noted.
3. transf.
a. A formal break or stop.
b. A break, interruption, interval.
1596Spenser F.Q. ii. x. 68 There abruptly it [a chronicle] did end, Without full point, or other Cesure right. 1846D. W. Pughe Harlech Castle 23 Ridge..extends with a few cæsures for nearly 22 miles.
▪ II. † cæˈsura, v. nonce-wd.
[f. prec. n.]
trans. To utter with a cæsura (ludicrously, in sing-song style).
a1666A. Brome Sat. on Rebel. (R.) No accents are so pleasant now as those That are cæsuraed through the pastor's nose. |