Word of the Day 4.28.08

cae·su·ra also ce·su·ra (s-zhr, -zr)

n. pl. cae·su·ras or cae·su·rae (-zhr, -zr)

1. A pause in a line of verse dictated by sense or natural speech rhythm rather than by metrics.

2. A pause or interruption, as in conversation: After another weighty caesura the senator resumed speaking.

3. In Latin and Greek prosody, a break in a line caused by the ending of a word within a foot, especially when this coincides with a sense division.

4. Music A pause or breathing at a point of rhythmic division in a melody.

Posted on April 28, 2008 by admin

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Word of the Day 4.27.08

vac·u·ous (vky-s)

adj.

1. Devoid of matter; empty.

2.

a. Lacking intelligence; stupid.

b. Devoid of substance or meaning; inane: a vacuous comment.

c. Devoid of expression; vacant: “The narrow, swinelike eyes were open, no more vacuous in death than they had been in life” Nicholas Proffitt.

3. Lacking serious purpose or occupation; idle. See Synonyms at empty.

Posted on April 27, 2008 by admin

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