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Interregnum

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interregnum¹

  • /ɪntəˈɹɛɡnəm/ UK
  • /ˌɪntəɹˈɹɛɡnəm/ US
  • /ɪntəˈɹɛɡnə/ UK
  • /ˌɪntəɹˈɹɛɡnə/ US

Rhymes with -ɛɡnəm

Where it comes from

Learned borrowing from Latin interrēgnum, from inter- (prefix meaning ‘between’) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₁entér (“between”)) + rēgnum (“reign; royal power”) (nominalized from the neuter of *rēgnus, from rēx (“king; ruler”, oblique stem rēg-) + -nus (suffix forming adjectives), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₃reǵ- (“to righten; to straighten”)).

The plural form interregna is a learned borrowing from Latin interrēgna.

noun interregnums · interregna

  1. A period of time between the end of one monarch's reign and the accession of their successor. The Sasanian Interregnum of 628–632
  2. broadly, figuratively A break in continuity; a gap, an intermission. Is it not Pelham who wonders what becomes of servants when they are not wanted;—whether, like the tones of an instrument, they exist but when called for? About servants we will not decide; but that some such interregnum certainly occurs in female existence on rising from table, no one can doubt who
  3. broadly A period of time between when a minister or pastor leaves a church and when a new one is installed.
  4. broadly A period of time between the end of one political leader's term and the start of the term of their successor; a period of time during which normal executive leadership is interrupted or suspended, and a polity is either left without leadership or has only a temporary one. Darker questions still emerge in these dusky final weeks of our interregnum.
  5. obsolete A temporary exercise of authority or rule during a period of time when there is no monarch or political leader.

Interregnum²

Where it comes from

Proprialization from interregnum.

proper noun

  1. abbreviation, ellipsis Ellipsis of British Interregnum, the period of 1649–1660 when an unmonarchical state ruled Britain; the monarchy was then restored.British Interregnum Meronyms: Commonwealth; Commonwealth of England; Protectorate; Commonwealth of England, Scotland and Ireland

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