A fall, a decline; a state of sinking.

A fall of the voice in reading or speaking, as at the end of a sentence; also, the falling of the voice in the general modulation of tones in reciting. In reading or speaking, a certain tone is taken, which is called the key, or key-note, on which mot of the words are pronounced, and the fall of the voice below this tone is called cadence. The ordinary cadence is a fall of the last syllable of a sentence only.

The general tone of reading verse. The cadence of one line must be a rule to that of the next; as the sound of the former must slide gently into that which follows.

Tone; sound; as, hoarse cadence.

In music, repose; the termination of a harmonical phrase on a repose or on a perfect chord. Also, the manner of closing a song; embellishment at the close.

In horsemanship, an equal measure or proportion observed by a horse in all his motions.

In heraldry, the distinction of families.

To regulate by musical measure.