-lude and –clude
Karl asked if the words
ludicrous and interlude are based on the same root. The short answer: in spite
of the spelling-challenged rapper, yes. Both came from the Latin verb ludere, to play. The concept of play
lies beneath the surface of a number of common words, at least in their
original meaning. For instance, we have
·
allude (to make a playful reference to something)
·
collude (to play against someone)
·
delude (to play on someone’s hope)
·
elude (to playfully evade)
·
interlude (a presentation between the acts of a play)
·
prelude (the warmup to a play or to a musical piece)
A warning, however. If
you see –lude immediately preceded by
a –c– (-clude) you are dealing with
another source entirely. That source is the Latin verb claudere, to close. Common examples are
·
conclude (to close an action)
·
exclude (to shut out)
·
occlude (to obstruct)
·
preclude (to block a course of action)
·
seclude (to shut up in isolation)
I came across an
intriguing word while researching this topic. The word is hastilude – spear play
in a tournament – but I don’t see the point.
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