clausula

noun

clau·​su·​la

ˈklȯzhələ

plural clausulae

-ˌlē

1

: a rhythmic close or terminal cadence especially in ancient and medieval Latin prose rhythm see cursus

2

in medieval music : an ornamented cadence or close

3

: a composition in descant style developed from a melismatic phrase of plainsong

clausular

-lə(r)

adjective

Word History

Etymology

Medieval Latin, from Latin, end, close of a rhetorical period, from clausus, past participle of claudere to close

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