noun
- A pause or break in a line of verse, typically occurring in the middle of a metrical foot.
- A pause or interruption in speech or music.
Usage: plural of cesura; literary/poetry term; also spelled caesura
Usage: general usage; less common than the poetry sense
Examples
- The cesuras in Shakespeare's sonnets create natural pauses for the reader.
- A skilled actor recognizes the cesuras in the text to enhance dramatic effect.
- The poet placed cesuras strategically throughout the verse to control rhythm.
- In classical Latin poetry, cesuras often appear at the midpoint of the line.
- The musical composition featured several cesuras that gave the piece a contemplative quality.