(in modern prosody) a pause, esp for sense, usually near the middle of a verse line
Usual symbol: ||
2.
(in classical prosody) a break between words within a metrical foot, usually in the third or fourth foot of the line
Derived forms
caesural (caeˈsural) or caesuric (caeˈsuric)
adjective
Word origin
C16: from Latin, literally: a cutting, from caedere to cut
caesura in American English
(sɪˈzjʊrə; sɪˈʒʊrə)
nounWord forms: pluralcaeˈsuras or caeˈsurae (sɪˈzjʊri; sɪˈʒʊri)
1.
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 theline and is shown in scanning by the sign ∥
2. Music
a break or pause in the meter of a composition
Derived forms
caesural (caeˈsural)
adjective
Word origin
L, a cutting < pp. of caedere, to cut down: see -cide