a name given to a formulary, or kind of confession of the articles of faith, obtruded upon the Protestants after Luther's death by the emperor Charles V. when he had defeated their forces; so called because it was only to take place in the interim (mean time) till a general council should have decided all points in dispute between the Protestants and Romanists. It retained most of the doctrines and ceremonies of the Romanists, excepting that of marriage, which was allowed to the clergy, and communion to the laity under both kinds. Most of the Protestants rejected it. There were two other interims; one of Leipic, the other of Franconia.