interregnum
2
9.9
- noun
- /ˌɪntəˈrɛɡnəm/
- Formal
:
interregno
- During the 1897-1914 interregnum, the leading personality in Edo had been Agho, the Obaseki, a palace title created for him by Ovonramwen.
- an interregnum of seventeen years
Examples
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Following an interregnum of seventeen years, Oba Eweka II was restored to the throne in 1914.
Academic text (1993) -
We are in an interregnum—a period of time in which values and structure disintegrate into chaos.
Blog text (8) -
Archaeologists refer to this period as the "interregnum."
Academic text (2011) -
They had been caught off guard by Alexander's death, but the chaos of the interregnum provides perfect cover for them.
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Secretary Acheson complained of the "virtual interregnum" of more than a year that accompanied the 1952-53 change of government.
Academic text (1992) -
After a long interregnum, the country finally welcomed a new government.
-
Following an interregnum that lasted several months, the new leadership began implementing reforms.
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The interregnum between the two leaders led to uncertainty and unrest among the citizens.
Synonyms
31
5.4
The time between one event and the next
7
6.7
A short break that interrupts or is different from what comes before and after
How Long
Surface Forms
Morphology
interregnum = regnum (semi-transparent) = inter + regnum
The prefix 'inter-' meaning 'between' is productive and clear, but the base 'regnum' is a Latin borrowing rather than a common modern English root, so learners may need familiarity with related words (reign/regnal) to infer the meaning.
Etymology
The word interregnum comes from the Latin parts inter 'between' and regnum 'rule' or 'kingdom', and it has the same root as reign. So an interregnum is the period when one ruler or government has ended and the next has not yet begun.