Interlude Meaning
/ˈɪntə(ɹ)luːd/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
nounAn intervening episode, etc.
nounAn entertainment between the acts of a play.
Sentence Examples
Democracy will only have been a short interlude in the history of humanity.
CEFR Practice Quiz
After the first act, there was a short ____ before the play resumed.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
After a brief ____ for lunch, the committee members returned to the room to continue their work.
Word Origin & History
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₁én Proto-Indo-European *h₁entér Proto-Italic *n̥ter Latin inter Latin inter- Latin lūdō English interlude From Latin inter- (“between”) + lūdō (“to play”).
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"[O]ur ovvne Statutes […] preciſely prohibit the ſatyricall depraving, traducing, or derogation of the Common Prayer-Booke, and of the Sacrament of the Lords Supper in any Enterludes, Playes or Rimes, (in vvhich kinde Playes had been formerly peccant) under ſevere penalties."
— 1632 (indicated as 1633), William Prynne, “Actus 3, Scena Sexta”, in Histrio-mastix. The Players Scourge, or, Actors Tragædie, […], London: […] E[lizabeth] A[llde,] [Thomas Cotes, Augustine Matthews] and W[illiam] I[ones] for Michael Sparke, […], →OCLC, 1st part, page 123:
"Jimmy Jam, co-producer of Ms. Jackson’s heavily interluded and influential 1989 album, “Rhythm Nation 1814” (and producer of a forthcoming album by Usher with interludes), also defended them."
— 2007 February 18, Tammy La Gorce, “Between Songs, Interludes That Fall Upon Deaf Ears”, in New York Times:
"During some brief, interluding, silent pauses in their interview thus far, Pierre had heard a soft, slow, sad, to-and-fro, meditative stepping on the floor above; […]"
— 1852, Herman Melville, Pierre; or The Ambiguities:
Explore More C1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
After the first act, there was a short ____ before the play resumed.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
After a brief ____ for lunch, the committee members returned to the room to continue their work.