Encyclopedia of Early Modern History Online

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Rhythm
(2,548 words)

1. Natural rhythms

1.1. Definition

Rhythm (from the Greek rhythmós, “measured flow,” “symmetry”), the regular metrical movement or recurrence of a phenomenon, is a key element in the subdivision of time. It divides up astronomical, “natural” (e.g. seasons), physical (e.g. the pendulum), biological (e.g. cell division, heartbeat, breath), psychological (mental processes congruent to biorhythms), and cultural processes (see Periodicity). It also forms a fundamental structural element of complex cultural phenomena, such as lang…

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Behringer, Wolfgang and Tischer, Matthias, “Rhythm”, in: Encyclopedia of Early Modern History Online, Editors of the English edition: Graeme Dunphy, Andrew Gow. Original German Edition: Enzyklopädie der Neuzeit. Im Auftrag des Kulturwissenschaftlichen Instituts (Essen) und in Verbindung mit den Fachherausgebern herausgegeben von Friedrich Jaeger. Copyright © J.B. Metzlersche Verlagsbuchhandlung und Carl Ernst Poeschel Verlag GmbH 2005–2012. Consulted online on 30 May 2023 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/2352-0272_emho_COM_026727>
First published online: 2015
First print edition: 20210601



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