01 n. The act or state of declining or sinking.
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1.
The act or state of declining or sinking.[Obs.]“Now was the sun in western cadence low.” — Milton.
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2.
A fall of the voice in reading or speaking, especially at the end of a sentence.
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3.
A rhythmical modulation of the voice or of any sound; as, music of bells in cadence sweet.“Blustering winds, which all night long Had roused the sea, now with hoarse cadence lull Seafaring men o'erwatched.” — Milton.“The accents . . . were in passion's tenderest cadence.” — Sir W. Scott.
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4.
Rhythmical flow of language, in prose or verse.“Golden cadence of poesy.” — Shak.“If in any composition much attention was paid to the flow of the rhythm, it was said (at least in the 14th and 15th centuries) to be “prosed in faire cadence.”” — Dr. Guest.
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6.
Harmony and proportion in motions, as of a well-managed horse.(Man.)
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7.
A uniform time and place in marching.(Mil.)
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8.
The close or fall of a strain; the point of rest, commonly reached by the immediate succession of the tonic to the dominant chord.(Mus.)
Phrases & compounds
Imperfect cadence —
See under Imperfect.