Home › Glossary › Letter C

Cadential descent

Structure
Pronunciation

Understanding ARPABET Pronunciation

Want to hear it? Click the Listen button to hear the browser speak the word using text-to-speech!

The pronunciation guide uses the ARPABET phonetic system—the same system used in speech recognition and text-to-speech applications.

Vowel Examples:
AE1 = cat, bat
EH1 = bed, head
IY1 = see, me
OW1 = go, boat
UW1 = boot, do
Stress Numbers:
0 = no stress (unstressed)
1 = primary stress (loud)
2 = secondary stress (medium)
Example:
AH0 TH IY1 N AH0
= a-THEE-na (Athena)

The stressed syllable (marked with 1) is pronounced louder and clearer than others.

Quick Definition

A rhythmic tapering or softening near a poem’s conclusion, creating a sense of resolution or fading energy.

Detailed Definition
Cadential descent describes a poetic closing that gradually lowers in pitch, intensity, or syntactic complexity to create a sense of resolution, resignation, or fading echo; this technique mirrors musical cadences, using diminishing line lengths, softer consonants, or reflective diction to guide the reader toward quiet closure or meditative stillness.
Example
Example in poetry:
Cadential descent: A melodic or rhythmic lowering at line ends creating resolution; In poetry, a slowing or softening of rhythm; Common in elegiac couplets signaling closure.
Additional Notes
A poetic line or phrase, often the final one in a section, where the rhythm or pitch naturally falls or diminishes towards an end point; Provides a sense of resolution or conclusion; Related to Cadential ending and the musical concept of cadence.
Also Known As
descending cadence falling resolution terminal descent Cadential fall
Skip to main content