caesurae
/sɪˈzjʊəriː/
NOUN
1. Pauses or interruptions in speech or activity
Temporary breaks, pauses, or interruptions in the continuous flow of speech, sound, or an activity.
1.1. Pauses in speech or conversation
Brief silences or interruptions in speaking, often used to create emphasis, express hesitation, or separate ideas.
Synonyms
- pauses
- breaks
- interruptions
- hiatuses
- intervals
Antonyms
- continuations
- uninterrupted flows
Examples
- The speaker's deliberate caesurae gave the audience time to consider each important point.
- The dramatic caesurae in the conversation made the disagreement more apparent.
Related Words
- silences
- hesitations
- gaps
- lulls
- discontinuities
- suspensions
1.2. Temporary breaks in activities or processes
Periods of temporary suspension or inactivity that interrupt the progress of an activity, event, or process.
Synonyms
- intermissions
- recesses
- respites
- interludes
- lulls
- rests
Antonyms
- continuations
- resumptions
Examples
- The unexpected caesurae in production delayed the completion of the project.
- The workers welcomed the brief caesurae in their demanding schedules.
Related Words
- downtime
- standstills
- cessations
- suspensions
- intervals
NOUN
2. Metrical pauses within lines of poetry
Pauses occurring within lines of verse, usually near the middle, that divide poetic lines into rhythmic or grammatical sections.
2.1. Poetic and metrical pauses
Rhythmic or grammatical breaks within lines of poetry that contribute to the structure, emphasis, and musical quality of verse.
Synonyms
- metrical pauses
- poetic pauses
- verse pauses
- rhythmic breaks
- metrical breaks
Antonyms
- enjambments
Examples
- The poet used several caesurae to create dramatic pauses within the verses.
- The placement of the caesurae gave the poem a distinctive rhythmic structure.
Related Words
- prosody
- scansion
- meter
- rhythm
- verse
- hemistichs
- enjambment
- line breaks
2.2. Word-boundary divisions in classical poetry
Points of division between words within metrical feet in classical Greek and Latin verse.
Synonyms
- metrical divisions
- metrical breaks
- word-boundary pauses
Examples
- The scholar examined the caesurae in the Latin hexameters.
- Different caesurae can influence the rhythm and interpretation of classical verse.
Related Words
- classical prosody
- dactylic hexameter
- metrical feet
- diaereses
- word boundaries
- hexameter
NOUN
3. Pauses in musical performances
Sudden or deliberate breaks in musical sound or performance, often used to create silence, emphasis, or separation between musical phrases.
3.1. Musical pauses and silences
Brief interruptions in musical performances that separate phrases or create dramatic effects.
Synonyms
- rests
- pauses
- breaks
- interruptions
- silences
Antonyms
- continuations
- uninterrupted passages
Examples
- The conductor signaled the caesurae before the orchestra resumed playing.
- The composer inserted several caesurae to emphasize the transitions between musical passages.