Interregnum - a podcast by Word of the Day

Interregnum is a noun that refers to ‘a pause between a continuous series.’

Our word of the day has its basis in the Latin word regnum (RAIN yoom) which refers to a ‘reign’ or ‘a kingdom.’ The prefix I-N-T-E-R means ‘between’ as in ‘interrupt.’ The word was first used in reference to an interruption in the reign of popes, but it later came to refer to other interruptions in political reigns. Today it can mean a pause between any kind of series, for example:

When Sophie took over for for the company, things went well for a while. But so much momentum had been lost in the interregnum between her leadership and Bob’s that the company was doomed.

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