Meanings
plural plagal cadences
- entertainmentA falling cadence in which a subdominant chord precedes the tonic; especially used in an ending Amen.
A fellow could rely on Market Street only so far, and then even that began to get discouraging, plagal cadences on parlor pianos, bright lights, and mirrors to the contrary notwithstanding.
2006, Thomas Pynchon, Against the Day, Vintage, published 2007, page 230Synonyms: amen cadence
Synonyms & antonyms
nounA falling cadence in which a subdominant chord precedes the tonic; especially used in an ending Amen.
More synonyms by meaning
nouna cadence (frequently ending church music) in which the chord of the subdominant precedes the chord of the tonic
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Translations
French cadence plagale
- cadence plagalecadence in which a subdominant chord precedes the tonic
German plagale Kadenz
- plagale Kadenzcadence in which a subdominant chord precedes the tonic
Icelandic kirkjuendir
- kirkjuendircadence in which a subdominant chord precedes the tonic
Italian cadenza plagale
- cadenza plagalecadence in which a subdominant chord precedes the tonic
Cite this entry
plagal cadence. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/plagal%20cadence
“plagal cadence.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/plagal%20cadence. Accessed November 5, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “plagal cadence,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/plagal%20cadence.
Source: plagal cadence on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.