common measure

[ kom-uhn mezh-er ]

noun

1. common time.
2. Also called common meter;. Prosody. a ballad stanza of four iambic lines and strict rhymes, often used in hymns, rhyming abcb or abab.

common measure

noun

1. another term for common time
2. the usual stanza form of a ballad, consisting of four iambic lines rhyming a b c b or a b a b

Word History and Origins

Origin of common measure¹

First recorded in 1710–20

Example Sentences

The most common measure being taken is collaborating with law enforcement, she said, but some polling places have installed panic buttons, bullet-resistant glass panels or electronic security measures.

From BBC

Though testosterone is now a common measure, there is continued disagreement over its validity.

From Los Angeles Times

One common measure of the yield curve is the most inverted it has been in 40 years, with the yield on two-year debt roughly one percentage point higher than the yield on 10-year notes.

From New York Times

One common measure of the yield curve has already inverted, with the two-year Treasury yield remaining above the 10-year Treasury yield since early July.

From New York Times

The CPI common measure, which the Bank of Canada says is the best gauge of the economy's performance, rose to 3.2% from an upwardly revised 3.0% in March and ahead of analyst forecasts of 2.9%.

From Reuters