interludium

Forms

interlūdium n; second declension^[1][2] Köbler also records the form interlūdum.^[1]

Etymology

Formed in Medieval Latin,^[3][4] it is from Latin inter (“between”) + lūdus (“play, game”).^[3] Köbler instead refers it to the verb interlūdō.^[1]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler dates Latham's first record to 1296,^[1] in the sense of an interlude or play.^[1][4]

Semantic evolution

Du Cange defines it as a stage play, in English an interlude, and quotes the Lives of the Abbots of Saint Albans, which speak of “interludes of vanity”.^[5] Knighton's chronicle, under the year 1348, says that at the tournaments a troop of ladies appeared in strange men's dress, like the company of an interlude.^[2]

It was also used more widely for a game or sport and for an incident or episode: a letter of 1301 mentions an affair at Faversham by this name.^[2] English took interlude about 1300 from French and directly from this word.^[3]

Timeline

• 1296 – First record listed by Latham.^[1]
• c. 1300 – English borrows it as interlude.^[3]
• 1301 – A Canterbury letter uses it of an episode at Faversham.^[2]
• c. 1410 – It is used of games and sports.^[2]

Meanings

Noun

1. (Medieval Latin) An interlude, a short play or entertainment.^[4][2][5]
2. (Medieval Latin) A game, sport.^[2]
3. (Medieval Latin) An incident, episode.^[2]

Related words

• English interlude

References

1. ^ a b c d e f Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
2. ^ a b c d e f g h Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b c d Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
4. ^ a b c Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
5. ^ a b du Cange, Charles du Fresne, et al. (1883–1887), Glossarium mediae et infimae latinitatis, augmented ed. by Léopold Favre, Niort: L. Favre