- cadence
- late 14c., "flow of rhythm in verse or music," from M.Fr. cadence, O.It. cadenza "conclusion of a movement in music," lit. "a falling," from V.L. *cadentia, from L. neut. pl. of cadens (gen. cadentis), prp. of cadere "to fall" (see case (1)). In 16c., sometimes used literally for "an act of falling."