interlude
IN-ter-lood
/ˈɪntəluːd/
An intervening period of time; a short performance between the main parts of a play.
Often implies a pleasant or contrasting period that differs from what came before and after.
The story behind the word. From the Latin for 'between the play.' In medieval times, these were short comedic sketches performed between the acts of serious religious plays.
Word relationships
- break: 'Break' is generic; 'interlude' suggests a specific quality or performance during the gap.
Commonly confused with
- interval: An 'interval' is a measure of time; an 'interlude' is the content or experience of that time.
Collocations
- musical interlude
- brief interlude
- romantic interlude
Example sentences
- "The walk in the park was a welcome interlude in an otherwise hectic afternoon." A peaceful moment in a busy day.
- "The orchestra played a brief romantic interlude between the two dramatic movements." A musical piece.
Memory hook
Think of 'inter' (between) and 'lude' (like 'ludicrous' or 'playful'). A playful break. A play within a pause.
When not to use
Not for a stressful or chaotic break; use 'disruption' for that.
Fun facts
- The word 'ludicrous' comes from the same root 'ludus,' meaning play or sport.
Related words
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