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Webster 1913 Edition

caesura

cae-su′ra

,
Noun.
;
pl. E.
caesuras
, L.
Cæsuræ
[L.
caesura
a cutting off, a division, stop, fr.
caedere
,
caesum
, to cut off. See
Concise
.]
A metrical break in a verse, occurring in the middle of a foot and commonly near the middle of the verse; a sense pause in the middle of a foot. Also, a long syllable on which the cæsural accent rests, or which is used as a foot.
☞ In the following line the cæsura is between study and of.
The prop | er stud | y ‖ of | mankind | is man.

Webster 1828 Edition

Caesura

CAESURA.

[See Cesura.]

Definition 2025

caesura

caesura

See also: cæsura

English

Alternative forms

Noun

caesura ‎(plural caesuras or caesurae)

  1. A pause or interruption in a poem, music, building, or other work of art.
  2. (Classical prosody) Using two words to divide a metrical foot.
  3. (typography) The caesura mark ‖ or ||.

Usage notes

In poetry bearing caesuras, it is marked by a double vertical line.

Synonyms

  • (typography): virgule (in its obsolete form as a single slash)

Translations

See also

Latin

Etymology

From caedō ‎(“I cut down, hew”).

Pronunciation

Noun

caesūra f ‎(genitive caesūrae); first declension

  1. A cutting, felling, hewing down.
  2. A pause in a verse, caesura.

Inflection

First declension.

Case Singular Plural
nominative caesūra caesūrae
genitive caesūrae caesūrārum
dative caesūrae caesūrīs
accusative caesūram caesūrās
ablative caesūrā caesūrīs
vocative caesūra caesūrae

Synonyms

Related terms

Descendants

References

Etymology

Latin caesūra ‎(“cutting, hewing”), from caesus, perfect passive participle of caedō ‎(“I cut down, hew”).

Pronunciation

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