clausula
noun
clau·su·la
ˈklȯzhələ
plural clausulae
-ˌlē
1
: a rhythmic close or terminal cadence especially in ancient and medieval Latin prose rhythm see cursus
2
in medieval music : an ornamented cadence or close
3
: a composition in descant style developed from a melismatic phrase of plainsong
clausular adjective
-lə(r)
Word History
Etymology
Medieval Latin, from Latin, end, close of a rhetorical period, from clausus, past participle of claudere to close