Adjacent Words

Interregnum definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

INTERREG'NUM, n. [L. inter and regnum, rule or reign.] The time in which a throne is vacant, between the death or abdication of a king and the accession of his successor. An interregnum, in strictness, can happen only in governments where the king is elective; for in hereditary kingdoms, the reign of the successor commences at the moment of his predecessor;s death or demise. The word however is used with more latitude.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: the time between two reigns, governments, etc.

Merriam Webster's

noun (plural -nums or interregna) Etymology: Latin, from inter- + regnum reign — more at reign Date: 1590 1. the time during which a throne is vacant between two successive reigns or regimes 2. a period during which the normal functions of government or control are suspended 3. a lapse or pause in a continuous series

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. (pl. interregnums or interregna) 1 an interval when the normal government is suspended, esp. between successive reigns or regimes. 2 an interval or pause. Etymology: L (as INTER-, regnum reign)

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Interregnum In`ter*reg"num, n.; pl. Interregnums. [L., fr. inter between + regnum dominion, reign. See Reign, and cf. Interreign.] 1. The time during which a throne is vacant between the death or abdication of a sovereign and the accession of his successor. 2. Any period during which, for any cause, the executive branch of a government is suspended or interrupted.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

An interregnum is a period between the end of one person's time as ruler or leader and the coming to power of the next ruler or leader. (FORMAL) N-SING