mensural, a.
(ˈmɛnsjʊərəl, ˈmɛnʃ(j)ʊərəl)
[a. med.L. mensūrāl-is, f. L. mēnsūra measure n.: see -al1.]
1. Pertaining to measure.
| 1651 Wittie tr. Primrose's Pop. Err. iv. xxv. 301 There were among the Ancients as well pounds in measure, as in weight, for their vessels were drawn about with lines..and whatsoever they measured after this manner, they called Mensurall: As for example, a mensurall pound of oyle or wine. 1861 L. L. Noble Icebergs 245 Do not these fifty bergs..speak more a living language to the creative, than to the mensural faculty? |
2. Mus. = mensurable 2.
| 1609 Douland Ornith. Microl. 39 Mensurall Musicke is a knowledge of making Songs by figures. 1893 Shedlock tr. Riemann's Dict. Mus., Mensural Note, the note of definite duration..invented about the commencement of the 12th century. 1901 Wooldridge Oxf. Hist. Mus. I. 114 The mensural system. Ibid. 174 The kind of part-writing which is characteristic of the early mensural period. |