cadence

Cadence is the rhythmic flow of a sequence of sounds, words, or movements. It denotes the pattern of accents, pauses, and endings that give a piece its sense of direction and finish. The term is used across disciplines, including music, language, poetry, speech, and physical movement. Its etymology traces to Old French cadence and Latin cadentia, from cadere, meaning to fall, reflecting the notion of resolution or conclusion.

In music, a cadence is a harmonic or melodic arrival that signals a pause or closure. Common types include the perfect or authentic cadence (V to I, often with I in the bass), the imperfect authentic cadence (V to I with some other bass or melody not fully rounded), the plagal cadence (IV to I, sometimes called the "Amen" cadence), the half cadence (ending on V, leaving a sense of expectation), and the deceptive cadence (V resolving unexpectedly to a chord other than I, typically vi).

In language and poetry, cadence describes the rhythmic rise and fall of spoken or written text. It reflects meter, sentence length, punctuation, and the arrangement of stressed syllables, shaping the musicality and perceived pace of phrases and lines.

In movement and performance, cadence also refers to tempo or rate of execution. In marching, cadence denotes the rhythm of steps per minute. In cycling and running, pedaling or strides per minute are called cadence and are used to regulate efficiency and effort.