interlude

Where does the word "interlude" come from? It comes from Medieval Latin interludere, passing through Medieval Latin before entering English (1300s).

Interlude’s story begins in Medieval Latin: interludere meant “to play between.” To play between, from inter- (between) and ludere (to play). Within Medieval Latin, it grew into interludium by medieval. Formed as a noun for a performance played between the acts of a play. It reached English by 1300s as interlude. Settled as the English word for a pause or intervening period between events. Today, interlude means an intervening period or pause between two events, acts, or pieces of music.

1. Stage 1 · Medieval Latin · medieval interludere "to play between", to play between, from inter- (between) and ludere (to play).
2. Stage 2 · Medieval Latin · medieval interludium "a performance played between acts", formed as a noun for a performance played between the acts of a play.
3. Stage 3 · English · 1300s interlude "a pause or intervening period between events", settled as the English word for a pause or intervening period between events.