English
interregnum
Interregnum comes from Latin interrēgnum, from Proto-Indo-European *h₁entér ‘between’, and ultimately from *h₃reǵ- ‘to straighten’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₃reǵ-‘to straighten’root as named
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₁én‘in’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₁entér‘between’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEinterrēgnum
- Englishearliest quotation 1831interregnum
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed deepest recorded ancestor
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₃reǵ-‘to straighten’root as named
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₁én‘in’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₁entér‘between’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEinterrēgnum
- Englishearliest quotation 1831interregnum
Earliest quotation: 1831, Letitia Elizabeth Landon, London: Henry Colburn and Richard Bentley: “Is it not Pelham who wonders what becomes of…”
The story
Learned borrowing from Latin interrēgnum, from inter- (prefix meaning ‘between’) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₁entér (‘between’)) + rēgnum (‘reign; royal power’) (nominalized from the neuter of *rēgnus, from rēx (“king; ruler”, oblique stem rēg-) + -nus (suffix forming adjectives), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₃reǵ- (‘to righten; to straighten’)). The plural form interregna is a learned borrowing from Latin interrēgna.
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *h₃reǵ- ‘to straighten’
right, real, source, director, rule, rich, royal, direction, address, direct, region, regular, dress, correct, rank, roy, radar, arrangement, regime, rack, ana, rogue, arrange, rex, raj, resurrection, regulate, rake, rector, erect, rectify, anorexia, interrogation, regal, rani, regent, regency, insurrection, rajah, rectum, 106 more
through Proto-Indo-European *h₁én ‘in’
in, entrance, indigenous, encounter, ensemble, impulse, intimate, incense, incubation, endo, intestine, dysentery, incubus, impel, incubate, agog, intimation, censer, enteral, 32 more
through Proto-Indo-European *h₁entér ‘between’
Today it means
noun A period of time between the end of one monarch's reign and the accession of their successor.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *h₃reǵ- / interregnum