interlu

n. [ L. interlucatio. ] Act of thinning a wood to let in light. [ Obs. ] Evelyn. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. interlucens, p. pr. See Inter-, and Lucent. ] Shining between. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. enterlude, LL. interludium; LL. inter between + ludus play, fr. ludere to play: cf. F. interlude. See Ludicrous. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. 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. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. 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 ]

3. (Mus.) 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 ]

4. Hence: Any intervening period of time, space, etc.; a pause between phases of an activity. [ PJC ]

a. Inserted in the manner of an interlude; having or containing interludes. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. An actor who performs in an interlude. B. Jonson. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. interluens, p. pr. of interluere to flow between; inter + luere. ] A flowing between; intervening water. [ Obs. ] Sir M. Hale.