cesura: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very LowTechnical, Literary, Academic
Quick answer
What does “cesura” mean?
A pause or break in a line of verse, dictated by rhythm or sense, rather than by metre.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A pause or break in a line of verse, dictated by rhythm or sense, rather than by metre.
A break or pause in any rhythmic sequence or process; a discontinuity or interruption in the flow of something. In music, a pause in a vocal line. More broadly, any significant break or transition point.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The spelling 'caesura' is overwhelmingly preferred in both varieties. 'Cesura' is an accepted, chiefly British, variant spelling, but it is very rare even there. American usage almost exclusively uses 'caesura'.
Connotations
Identical in both varieties – a technical, precise term from literary criticism and musicology.
Frequency
The term is very infrequent in general discourse. In academic/literary texts, 'caesura' appears thousands of times more often than 'cesura'.
Grammar
How to Use “cesura” in a Sentence
The poem contains a [ADJ] cesura.The cesura [VERB] the flow.Place a cesura [PREP PHRASE].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “cesura” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The poet deliberately cesuraed the line for dramatic effect. (Extremely rare, non-standard)
American English
- He attempted to caesura the musical phrase. (Rare, non-standard)
adjective
British English
- The cesural pause was perfectly timed. (Rare, 'caesural' is standard)
American English
- The caesural break is a key feature of Old English poetry.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in literary studies, prosody, music theory, and occasionally in historiography to describe a decisive break between periods.
Everyday
Extremely rare. Would be used only by someone discussing poetry or music in a detailed way.
Technical
Core term in metrical analysis of poetry (e.g., 'The pentameter line often has a medial caesura') and in musical notation for a pause in a vocal part.
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “cesura”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “cesura”
- Misspelling as 'cesura' when the standard is 'caesura'.
- Pronouncing the initial 'c' as /k/.
- Using it to mean any simple pause in speech, rather than a deliberate rhythmic/structural break in art.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Caesura' is the standard, much more common spelling. 'Cesura' is a variant spelling, chiefly British, but it is very rare. For all practical purposes, use 'caesura'.
No. A cesura is a rhythmic/metrical phenomenon within a line of poetry, which may or may not coincide with punctuation. Punctuation can signal a cesura, but the cesura is the conceptual pause itself.
Yes, but it is a stylistic choice, implying a learned or metaphorical usage. It can describe a significant break or pause in music, history, or a narrative, emphasising a structural division.
In British English: /sɪˈzjʊə.rə/ (si-ZYOO-ruh). In American English: /səˈʒʊr.ə/ (suh-ZHOOR-uh). The 'c' is always soft (an 's' sound).
A pause or break in a line of verse, dictated by rhythm or sense, rather than by metre.
Cesura is usually technical, literary, academic in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A cesura in history”
- “A cesura in thought”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'CEase SURely At' – a place where the poetic line surely ceases or pauses for a moment.
Conceptual Metaphor
RHYTHM IS A JOURNEY / A cesura is a rest stop or a moment of stillness on a journey.
Practice
Quiz
In which field is the term 'cesura' most precisely and commonly used?