Interregnum

4 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Interregnum \In`ter*reg"num\, n.; pl. {Interregnums}. [L., fr.
     inter between + regnum dominion, reign. See {Reign}, and cf.
     {Interreign}.]
     [1913 Webster]
     1. The time during which a throne is vacant between the death
        or abdication of a sovereign and the accession of his


        successor.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. Any period during which, for any cause, the executive
        branch of a government is suspended or interrupted.
        [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  interregnum
       n : the time between two reigns, governments, etc.
       [also: {interregna} (pl)]

From Bouvier's Law Dictionary, Revised 6th Ed (1856) [bouvier]:

  INTERREGNUM, polit. law. In an established government, the period which 
  elapses between the death of a sovereign and the election of another is 
  called interregnum. It is also understood for the vacancy created in the 
  executive power, and for any vacancy which occurs when there is no 
  government. 
  
  

From THE DEVIL'S DICTIONARY ((C)1911 Released April 15 1993) [devils]:

  INTERREGNUM, n.  The period during which a monarchical country is
  governed by a warm spot on the cushion of the throne.  The experiment
  of letting the spot grow cold has commonly been attended by most
  unhappy results from the zeal of many worthy persons to make it warm
  again.