cadence

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   the rhythmic flow or pattern of sounds in speech, writing, or movement

   The speaker's measured cadence made the complex argument easy to follow.

2. 2
   noun

   music: a sequence of notes or chords that closes a phrase or section

   The movement ends with a quiet cadence in the home key.

3. 3
   noun

   the beat or rate of repeated movement, especially marching, running, or pedaling

   The runners settled into a steady cadence after the first mile.

Borrowed through Middle French cadence and Italian cadenza from Late Latin cadentia ("a falling"), based on Latin cadere ("to fall"). A musical cadence was conceived as the fall or close of a phrase; the word then broadened to rhythmic patterns in speech and movement.

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