interlude

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: in=ter=lude

CIDE DICTIONARY

interlude, n. [OE. enterlude, LL. interludium; LL. inter between + ludus play, fr. ludere to play: cf. F. interlude. See Ludicrous.].

•  A short entertainment exhibited on the stage between the acts of a play, or between the play and the afterpiece, to relieve the tedium of waiting.  [1913 Webster]

  "Dreams are but interludes, which fancy makes
  When monarch reason sleeps."  [1913 Webster]
•  A form of English drama or play, usually short, merry, and farcical, which succeeded the Moralities or Moral Plays in the transition to the romantic or Elizabethan drama.  [1913 Webster]
•  A short piece of instrumental music played between the parts of a song or cantata, or the acts of a drama; especially, in church music, a short passage played by the organist between the stanzas of a hymn, or in German chorals after each line.  [1913 Webster]
•  Any intervening period of time, space, etc.; a pause between phases of an activity.  [PJC]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

interlude, n.
1 a a pause between the acts of a play. b something performed or done during this pause.
2 a an intervening time, space, or event that contrasts with what goes before or after. b a temporary amusement or entertaining episode.
3 a piece of music played between other pieces, the verses of a hymn, etc.

Etymology

ME, = a light dramatic item between the acts of a morality play, f. med.L interludium (as INTER-, ludus play)

THESAURUS

interlude

abeyance, act, afterpiece, anacrusis, bass passage, bit, bourdon, break, breath, breather, breathing place, breathing space, breathing spell, breathing time, bridge, burden, cadence, caesura, cease-fire, chaser, chorus, cigarette break, cocktail hour, coda, coffee break, curtain, curtain call, curtain raiser, day off, development, divertimento, divertissement, division, downtime, drop, enforced respite, epilogue, episode, exode, exodus, exposition, expository scene, figure, finale, folderol, gap, half time, half-time intermission, halt, happy hour, harmonic close, hesitation, hiatus, hoke act, holiday, idyll, interim, intermezzo, intermission, intermittence, interregnum, interruption, interval, introduction, introductory phrase, lacuna, lapse, layoff, letup, lull, meantime, meanwhile, measure, movement, musical phrase, musical sentence, number, off-time, ornament, parenthesis, part, passage, pause, period, phrase, plateau, point of repose, prologue, quiet spell, recess, refrain, relief, remission, resolution, respite, response, rest, resting point, ritornello, routine, scene, section, shtick, sketch, skit, song and dance, spell, stand-down, stand-up comedy act, stanza, statement, stay, stop, stoppage, strain, striptease, surcease, suspension, tailpiece, tea break, time off, time out, truce, turn, tutti, tutti passage, vacation, variation, verse, wait

ROGET THESAURUS

interlude

The Drama

N the drama, the stage, the theater, the play, film the film, movies, motion pictures, cinema, cinematography, theatricals, dramaturgy, histrionic art, buskin, sock, cothurnus, Melpomene and Thalia, Thespis, play, drama, stage play, piece, five-act play, tragedy, comedy, opera, vaudeville, comedietta, lever de rideau, interlude, afterpiece, exode, farce, divertissement, extravaganza, burletta, harlequinade, pantomime, burlesque, opera bouffe, ballet, spectacle, masque, drame comedie drame, melodrama, melodrame, comidie larmoyante, sensation drama, tragicomedy, farcical-comedy, monodrame monologue, duologue trilogy, charade, proverbs, mystery, miracle play, musical, musical comedy, western, horse opera, flick, spy film, love story, adventure film, documentary, nature film, pornographic film, smoker, skin flick, X-rated film, act, scene, tableau, induction, introduction, prologue, epilogue, libretto, performance, representation, mise en scene, stagery, jeu de theatre, acting, gesture, impersonation, stage business, gag, buffoonery, light comedy, genteel comedy, low comedy, theater, playhouse, opera house, house, music hall, amphitheater, circus, hippodrome, theater in the round, puppet show, fantoccini, marionettes, Punch and Judy, auditory, auditorium, front of the house, stalls, boxes, pit, gallery, parquet, greenroom, coulisses, flat, drop, drop scene, wing, screen, side scene, transformation scene, curtain, act drop, proscenium, stage, scene, scenery, the boards, trap, mezzanine floor, flies, floats, footlights, offstage, orchestra, theatrical costume, theatrical properties, movie studio, back lot, on location, part, role, character, dramatis personae, repertoire, actor, thespian, player, method actor, stage player, strolling player, stager, performer, mime, mimer, artists, comedian, tragedian, tragedienne, Roscius, star, movie star, star of stage and screen, superstar, idol, sex symbol, supporting actor, supporting cast, ham, hamfatter, masker, pantomimist, clown harlequin, buffo, buffoon, farceur, grimacer, pantaloon, columbine, punchinello, pulcinello, pulcinella, extra, bit- player, walk-on role, cameo appearance, mute, figurante, general utility, super, supernumerary, company, first tragedian, prima donna, protagonist, jeune premier, debutant, debutante, light comedian, genteel comedian, low comedian, walking gentleman, amoroso, heavy father, ingenue, jeune veuve, mummer, guiser, guisard, gysart, masque, mountebank, Jack Pudding, tumbler, posture master, acrobat, contortionist, ballet dancer, ballet girl, chorus singer, coryphee danseuse, property man, costumier, machinist, prompter, call boy, manager, director, stage manager, acting manager, producer, entrepreneur, impresario, backer, investor, angel, dramatic author, dramatic writer, play writer, playwright, dramatist, mimographer, dramatic, theatric, theatrical, scenic, histrionic, comic, tragic, buskined, farcical, tragicomic, melodramatic, operatic, stagy, on the stage, on the boards, on film, before the floats, before an audience, behind the scenes, fere totus mundus exercet histrionem, suit the action to the word, the word to the action, the play's the thing, to wake the soul by tender strokes of art.

Time

N time, duration, period, term, stage, space, span, spell, season, the whole time, the whole period, space-time, course, snap, intermediate time, while, interim, interval, pendency, intervention, intermission, intermittence, interregnum, interlude, respite, era, epoch, time of life, age, year, date, decade, moment, glass of time, sands of time, march of time, Father Time, ravages of time, arrow of time, river of time, whirligig of time, noiseless foot of time, scythe, continuing, on foot, permanent, while, whilst, during, pending, during the time, during the interval, in the course of, at that point, at that point in time, for the time being, day by day, in the time of, when, meantime, meanwhile, in the meantime, in the interim, ad interim, pendente lite, de die in diem, from day to day, from hour to hour, hourly, always, for a time, for a season, till, until, up to, yet, as far as, by that time, so far, hereunto, heretofore, prior to this, up to this point, the whole time, all the time, all along, throughout, for good, hereupon, thereupon, whereupon, then, anno Domini, A, D, ante Christum, A, C, before Christ, B, C, anno urbis conditae, A, U, C, anno regni, A, R, once upon a time, one fine morning, one fine day, one day, once, time flies, tempus fugit, time runs out, time runs against, race against time, racing the clock, time marches on, time is of the essence, time and tide wait for no man, ad calendas Groecas, panting Time toileth after him in vain, 'gainst the tooth of time and razure of oblivion, rich with the spoils of time, tempus edax rerum, the long hours come and go, the time is out of joint, Time rolls his ceaseless course, Time the foe of man's dominion, time wasted is existence, used is life, truditur dies die, volat hora per orbem, carpe diem.