intermezzo
UK[ˌɪntəˈmɛtsəʊ]US[ˌɪn(t)ərˈmɛtsoʊ]
n
a short piece of music or a short performance that connects the main parts of an opera or other musical work.
n
a short, independent instrumental composition.
Morpheme Breakdown
inter
mezz
o
inter
between
mezz
middle
o
noun suffix
Etymology
the word 'intermezzo' is a direct loan from italian, where it literally means "that which is in the middle". it is constructed from the latin prefix 'inter-' (between) and the root 'mezzo' (middle), itself descended from latin 'medius', a term with proto-indo-european origins related to centrality. originally used in the 16th century to describe a short comic performance inserted between the acts of a serious play or opera, the term logically evolved to describe any intervening piece of music. its modern usage retains this core logic of something situated between larger, more significant parts, whether in a dramatic or purely musical structure.
Analysis
Structure: inter (between) + mezz (middle) + o (noun suffix)
- inter: from latin, meaning "between, among". functions as a prefix indicating position or relation.
- mezz: from italian 'mezzo', from latin 'medius', meaning "middle". functions as the core root denoting a central position.
- o: from italian, a common noun-forming suffix. functions as a grammatical marker indicating the word is a noun.
Examples
the orchestra played a lively intermezzo between the second and third acts.
brahms composed several beautiful intermezzi for solo piano.
the film uses a musical intermezzo to signal the passage of time.