Etymology dictionary

inter (v.) — intermixture (n.)

inter (v.)

"bury in the earth or a grave," c. 1300, formerly also enter, from Old French enterer (11c.), from Medieval Latin interrare "put in the earth, bury," from in- "in" (from PIE root *en "in") + Latin terra "earth" (see terra). Related: Interred; interring.

interact (v.)

"act on each other, act reciprocally," 1805, from inter- + act (v.). Related: Interacted; interacting.

interactive (adj.)

"acting upon or influencing each other," 1832, from interact (v.), probably on model of active. Related: Interactively; interactivity.

interaction (n.)

1812, from inter- + action.

inter alia

Latin, literally "amongst other things." from inter "among, between" (see inter-) + alia, neuter accusative plural of alius "(an)other" (see alias (adv.)). Latin for "among other persons" is inter alios.

interamnian (adj.)

"between two rivers" (usually, if not exclusively, with reference to Mesopotamia), 1774, from Late Latin interamnius, from inter "between" (see inter-) + amnis "a river," a word perhaps of Celtic origin (see afanc).

interblend (v.)

"intermingle," 1823, from inter- + blend (v.). Related: Interblended; interblending.

interbreed (v.)

1803 (transitive) "to breed by crossing species or varieties," from inter- + breed (v.). Intransitive sense of "procreate with one of a different species" is from 1825. Related: Interbred; interbreeding.

intercalation (n.)

1570s, from Latin intercalationem (nominative intercalatio) "insertion of an intercalary day," noun of action from past participle stem of intercalare "proclaim an intercalary day" (see intercalate). The general sense "insertion of any addition into an existing series" is from 1640s.

intercalate (v.)

"to insert a day into the calendar," 1610s, from Latin intercalatus, past participle of intercalare "to proclaim the insertion of an intercalary day," from inter "between" (see inter-) + calare "to call" (an intercalary day; see calendar). Sometimes used in a general sense, "to insert between others" (1824). Related: Intercalated; intercalating.

A necessary process in the Roman calendar to balance the solar and lunar aspects of it. Intercalation was done after Feb. 23 or 24 (the terminalia), every two or four years. Twenty-seven days were intercalated, making a full intercalary month (which included the last four or five days of Februarius), known as mensis intercalaris (and also known, according to Plutarch, as Mercedonius). No one now knows why the intercalation was done in the middle of February rather than after its end, unless it was because the important festivals at the end of that month (Regifugium and Equirra) were closely associated with holidays in early March. After Caesar's reform (46 B.C.E.) the only intercalary day is Feb. 29 every four years.

intercalary (adj.)

"inserted into the calendar," 1610s, from Latin intercalarius "intercalary, of an intercalary month," from intercalare "proclaim an intercalary day" (see intercalate). General sense of "interpolated" is attested from 1798.

intercede (v.)

1570s, "to come between in space or time" (obsolete); c. 1600, "to interpose on behalf of another," a back-formation from intercession, or else from Latin intercedere "intervene, come between, be between" (in Medieval Latin "to interpose on someone's behalf"), from inter "between" (see inter-) + cedere "to go" (from PIE root *ked- "to go, yield"). Related: Interceded; interceding.

interception (n.)

early 15c., "action of intercepting" (the flow of a bodily fluid), from Latin interceptionem (nominative interceptio) "a seizing, taking away," noun of action from past participle stem of intercipere (see intercept (v.)). Specific football/rugby sense is attested by 1897. Meaning "action of closing in on and destroying an enemy aircraft, etc." is recorded from 1939.

intercept (v.)

c. 1400, "to cut off" (a line), "prevent" (the spread of a disease), from Latin interceptus, past participle of intercipere "take or seize between, to seize in passing," from inter "between" (see inter-) + -cipere, combining form of capere "to take, catch," from PIE root *kap- "to grasp." Related: Intercepted; intercepting.

intercept (n.)

"that which is intercepted," from intercept (v.). From 1821 of a ball thrown in a sport; 1880 in navigation; 1942 in reference to secret messages.

interceptor (n.)

1590s, from Latin interceptor "interceptor, usurper, embezzler," agent noun from intercipere (see intercept (v.)). As a type of fast fighter aircraft, from 1930. Intercepter is attested from c. 1600.

intercession (n.)

early 15c., "act of interceding;" c. 1500, "intercessory prayer, a pleading on behalf of oneself or another," from Latin intercessionem (nominative intercessio) "a going between, coming between, mediation," noun of action from past participle stem of intercedere "intervene, come between, be between" (in Medieval Latin "to interpose on someone's behalf;" see intercede). The sense "pleading on behalf of another" developed in Christianity.

intercessor (n.)

"one who pleads or intervenes on behalf of another," late 15c., from a specific Christian use of Latin intercessor "one who intervenes, a mediator," agent noun from intercedere (see intercede). Related: Intercessory.

interchangeable (adj.)

late 14c., entrechaungeable, "mutual, reciprocal," from inter- + changeable. Meaning "capable of being used in place of each other" is from 1560s. Related: Interchangeably.

interchangeability (n.)

1763; see interchangeable + -ity.

interchange (v.)

late 14c., enterchaungen, "to give and receive reciprocally; to alternate, put each in place of the other" (trans.), also "change reciprocally" (intrans.), from Old French entrechangier "interchange, exchange," from entre- "between" (see inter-) + changier "to change" (see change (v.)). Related: Interchanged; interchanging.

interchange (n.)

early 15c., "an exchange, act of exchanging reciprocally," from Old French entrechange, from entrechangier (see interchange (v.)). Meaning "alternate succession" is from 1550s. In reference to a type of road junction, 1944.

intercoastal (adj.)

"within the coasts," 1927, from inter- + coastal.

intercollegiate (adj.)

1873, from inter- + collegiate.

intercom (n.)

"radio or telephone intercommunication system," 1937, colloquial shortening of intercommunication, which is attested from 1911 in reference to systems of linked telephones.

intercommunication (n.)

mid-15c., "discussion, conference," from Anglo-Latin intercommunicationem; see inter- + communication. Attested from 1881 in reference to systems of linked telephones.

intercommunicate (v.)

1580s, "communicate reciprocally," from inter- + communicate (v.) or else from Medieval Latin intercommunicatus, past participle of intercommunicare.

intercommunion (n.)

1749, "intimate intercourse, fellowship," from inter- "between" + communion (n.).

interconnect (v.)

1863, from inter- + connect (v.). Related: Interconnected; interconnecting.

interconnectedness (n.)

1873, noun of state from past participle of interconnect + -ness. Interconnection is attested from 1827.

intercontinental (adj.)

1825, American English, from inter- "between" + continental (adj.). Of missiles, from 1956.

intercostal (adj.)

"between the ribs," 1590s; see inter- + costal.

intercourse (n.)

mid-15c., "communication to and fro," ("In early use exclusively with reference to trade" [OED]), from Old French entrecors "exchange, commerce, communication" (12c., Modern French entrecours), from Late Latin intercursus "a running between, intervention," in Medieval Latin "intercommunication," from intercursus, past participle of intercurrere "to run between, intervene, mediate," from Latin inter "between" (see inter-) + currere "to run" (from PIE root *kers- "to run").

Sense of "frequent and habitual meeting and contact, social communication between persons" is from 1540s. Meaning "mental or spiritual exchange or intercommunication" is from 1560s. Meaning "sexual relations" (1798) probably is a shortening of euphemistic sexual intercourse (1771) with intercourse in its sense "social contact and relations."

intercrural (adj.)

"between the thighs," or in medicine, "between leg-like structures," 1690s, from inter- "between" + Latin crus "shin, shank, (lower) leg; supports of a bridge," from Proto-Italic *krus-, which is of uncertain origin.

interdepartmental (adj.)

also inter-departmental, 1861, from inter- + departmental.

interdependence (n.)

1816 (Coleridge), from inter- + dependence.

interdependent (adj.)

1817 (Coleridge), from inter- + dependent. Related: Interdependently.

interdependency (n.)

1830, from interdependent + abstract noun suffix -cy.

interdict (v.)

c. 1300, enterditen, "to place under ban of the Church, excommunicate," from Old French entredit (Modern French interdit), past participle of entredire "forbid by decree, excommunicate," from Latin interdicere "interpose by speech, prohibit, forbid," from inter "between" (see inter-) + dicere "to speak, to say" (from PIE root *deik- "to show," also "pronounce solemnly"). General sense "forbid, prohibit" in English is from early 15c. Related: Interdicted; interdicting; interdictory.

interdiction (n.)

mid-15c., enterdiccioun, from Latin interdictionem (nominative interdictio) "a prohibiting, a forbidding," noun of action from past participle stem of interdicere (see interdict).

interdisciplinary (adj.)

1937, from inter- + disciplinary.

interesting (adj.)

1711, "that concerns, important" (archaic), present-participle adjective from interest (v.). Meaning "engaging the attention, so as to excite interest" is from 1751. Related: Interestingly. Euphemistic phrase interesting condition, etc., "pregnant" is from 1748.

interest (v.)

"cause to be interested, engage the attention of," c. 1600, earlier interesse (1560s), from the noun (see interest (n.)). Perhaps also from or influenced by interess'd, past participle of interesse.

interest (n.)

mid-15c., "legal claim or right; a concern; a benefit, advantage, a being concerned or affected (advantageously)," from Old French interest "damage, loss, harm" (Modern French intérêt), from noun use of Latin interest "it is of importance, it makes a difference," third person singular present of interresse "to concern, make a difference, be of importance," literally "to be between," from inter "between" (see inter-) + esse "to be" (from PIE root *es- "to be"). The sense development to "profit, advantage" in French and English is not entirely clear.

The earlier Middle English word was interesse (late 14c.), from Anglo-French interesse "what one has a legal concern in," from Medieval Latin interesse "compensation for loss," noun use of Latin interresse (compare German Interesse, from the same Medieval Latin source).

Financial sense of "money paid for the use of money lent" (1520s) earlier was distinguished from usury (illegal under Church law) by being in reference to "compensation due from a defaulting debtor." Sense of "personal or selfish consideration" is from 1620s. Meaning "business in which several people are interested" is from 1670s. Meaning "curiosity, feeling that something concerns one, appreciative or sympathetic regard" is first attested 1771. Interest group is attested from 1907; interest rate by 1868.

interested (adj.)

1660s, "characterized by concern or sympathy," past-participle adjective from interest (v.). From 1828 as "having an interest or stake (in something);" sense "motivated by self-interest" (1705) is perhaps a back-formation from disinterested. Related: Interestedness.

interface (n.)

1874, "a plane surface regarded as the common boundary of two bodies," from inter- + face (n.). Modern use is perhaps a c. 1960 re-coinage; McLuhan used it in the sense "place of interaction between two systems" (1962) and the computer sense "apparatus to connect two devices" is from 1964. As a verb from 1967. Related: Interfaced; interfacing.

interfacial (adj.)

1837, of crystals, from inter- "between" + facial (adj.).

interfaith (adj.)

1921, from inter- + faith.

interference (n.)

1783, "intermeddling," from interfere on model of difference, etc. In physics, in reference to the mutual action of waves on each other, from 1802, coined in this sense by English scientist Dr. Thomas Young (1773-1829). Telephoning (later broadcasting) sense is from 1887. In chess from 1913; in U.S. football from 1894.

interfere (v.)

formerly also enterfere, mid-15c., enterferen, "intermingle or mix (different things), interpose," also "to interfere," from Old French enterferer "exchange blows, strike each other," from entre- "between" (see entre-) + ferir "to strike," from Latin ferire "to knock, strike," related to Latin forare "to bore, pierce" (from PIE root *bhorh- "hole"). Compare punch (v.), which has both the senses "to hit" and "to make a hole in").

Figurative sense of "to meddle with, oppose unrightfully" is from 1630s. Related: Interfered; interfering. Modern French interférer is from English.

interferometer (n.)

"instrument for measuring the interference of light waves," 1897, a hybrid from interfere + -meter. Compare interferential (1867), coined on the model of differential. Related: Interferometric; interferometry.

interferon (n.)

animal protein, 1957, coined in English from interfere + subatomic particle suffix -on; so called because it "interferes" with the reduplication of viruses.

interflow (n.)

"a flowing into each other," 1839, from inter- + flow (n.).

interfold (v.)

1570s, from inter- + fold (v.). Related: Interfolded; interfolding.

intergalactic (adj.)

1928, in reference to galaxies as presently understood, from inter- + galactic. The word itself was in use by 1901, when galaxies were thought to be a sort of nebulae.

intergenerational (adj.)

1964, from inter- + generation + -al (1).

interglacial (adj.)

1867 in reference to warm spells between ice ages, from German, coined 1865 by Swiss naturalist Oswald Heer (1809-1883); see inter- "between" + glacial. The word was used earlier in reference to situations between glaciers or ice caps (1835).

interim (n.)

"time intervening," 1560s, from Latin interim (adv.) "in the meantime, meanwhile," originally "in the midst of that," from inter "between" (from PIE *enter "between, among," comparative of root *en "in") + im, ancient adverb from stem of pronoun is "this, that." As an adjective from c. 1600.

interiority (n.)

1701, from interior + -ity.

interior (n.)

"part of a country distant from the coast," 1796, from interior (adj.); meaning "internal part, inside" is from 1828. Meaning "internal affairs of a country or state" (as in U.S. Department of the Interior) is from 1826. The Latin adjective also was used as a noun.

interior (adj.)

late 15c., from Latin interior "inner, interior, middle," comparative adjective of inter "within" (from PIE *enter "between, among," comparative of root *en "in"). Specific meaning "away from the coast, of the interior parts of a country" is from 1777. Interior decoration first attested 1769; interior decorator is from 1830. Interior design from 1927.

interjacent (adj.)

1590s, from Latin interiacentem (nominative interiacens) "lying between," present participle of interiacere "to lie between," from inter "among, between" (see inter-) + iacere "to throw; to set, establish" (from PIE root *ye- "to throw, impel"). Related: Interjacency.

interjection (n.)

early 15c., interjeccioun, "an interjected or exclamatory word," from Old French interjeccion (13c.) and directly from Latin interiectionem (nominative interiectio) "a throwing or placing between," also in grammar and rhetoric, noun of action from past-participle stem of intericere "to throw between, set between," from inter "between" (see inter-) + -icere, combining form of iacere "to throw" (from PIE root *ye- "to throw, impel"). Related: Interjectional.

interject (v.)

1570s, back-formation from interjection or else from Latin interiectus, past participle of intericere "to throw between, set between," from inter "between" (see inter-) + -icere, combining form of iacere "to throw" (from PIE root *ye- "to throw, impel"). Related: Interjected; interjecting.

interlace (v.)

formerly also enterlace, late 14c. (trans.), "unite by crossing the laces," thus, "entangle, bind together," from Old French entrelacier (12c.), from entre- (see entre-) "between" + lacier "to tie, entangle," from laz (see lace (n.)).

Intransitive sense from 1590s. Television sense is from 1927. Related: Interlaced; interlacing; interlacement. The noun is 1904, from the verb.

interlanguage (n.)

"artificial or auxilliary language," 1927, from inter- + language.

interlard (v.)

early 15c., "to mix with alternate layers of fat" (before cooking), from Old French entrelarder (12c.), from entre- "between" (see inter-) + larder "to lard," from Old French lard "bacon fat" (see lard (n.)). Figurative sense of "diversify with something intermixed" first recorded 1560s. Related: Interlarded; interlarding; interlardment.

interleaf (n.)

"extra page in a book," usually left blank and for taking notes, 1741, from inter- "between" + leaf (n.).

interleague (adj.)

also inter-league, by 1917 in a U.S. baseball sense, from inter- "between" + league (n.). Earlier (1580s) as a verb, "to combine in a league."

interline (v.)

c. 1400, "make corrections or insertions between the lines of (a document)," from inter- "between" + line; perhaps modeled on Old French entreligniere or Medieval Latin interlineare "write between lines." Related: Interlined; interlining; interlineation.

interlinear (adj.)

late 14c., "situated between the lines," from Medieval Latin interlinearis "that which is between the lines," from inter "between" (see inter-) + Latin linearis (see linear). Meaning "having interpolated lines" is from 1620s. Related: Interlineary.

interlingual (adj.)

"between or relating to two languages," 1854, from inter- "between" + lingual. Related: Interlingually.

interlock (v.)

1630s, "to be locked together," from inter- "between" + lock (v.). Related: Interlocked; interlocking. As a noun, attested by 1856.

interlocution (n.)

"interchange of speech, dialogue, action of talking and replying," 1530s, from Latin interlocutionem (nominative interlocutio) "a speaking between, interlocution," noun of action from past participle stem of interloqui "to speak between; to interrupt," from inter "between" (see inter-) + loqui "to speak" (from PIE root *tolkw- "to speak").

interlocutor (n.)

1510s, "one who speaks in a dialogue or conversation," agent noun from Latin interlocut-, past participle stem of interloqui "speak between; interrupt," from inter "between" (see inter-) + loqui "to speak" (from PIE root *tolkw- "to speak").

In minstrel shows, the name of a straight-man character (1870) who was the questioner of the end men. Related: Interlocutory. Fem. forms include interlocutress (1858), interlocutrix (1846), interlocutrice (1848).

interlope (v.)

"intrude where one has no business," especially with a view to gain the advantage or profits of another (as a trader without a proper licence), early 17c., probably a back-formation from interloper (q.v.). Related: Interloped; interloping.

interloper (n.)

1590s, enterloper, "unauthorized trader trespassing on privileges of chartered companies," probably a hybrid from inter- "between" + -loper (from landloper "vagabond, adventurer," also, according to Johnson, "a term of reproach used by seamen of those who pass their lives on shore"); perhaps from a dialectal form of leap, or from Middle Dutch loper "runner, rover," from lopen "to run," from Proto-Germanic *hlaupanan "to leap" (see leap (v.)).

OED says Dutch enterlooper "a coasting vessel; a smuggler" is later than the English word and said by Dutch sources to be from English. General sense of "self-interested intruder" is from 1630s.

interlude (n.)

formerly also enterlude, c. 1300, from Old French entrelude and directly from Medieval Latin interludium "an interlude," from Latin inter "between" (see inter-) + ludus "a play" (see ludicrous). Originally the term for farcical episodes ("generally short and coarse" - Century Dictionary) drawn from real life introduced between acts of long mystery or morality plays. In 17c.-18c. it meant "popular stage play;" transferred (non-dramatic) sense of "interval in the course of some action" is from 1751. Related: Interludial.

intermarry (v.)

1570s, "to marry one another," from inter- + marry (v.). Meaning "to marry across families, castes, tribes, etc." is from 1610s. Related: Intermarried; intermarrying.

intermarriage (n.)

1570s, "act or fact of marrying" (now mostly restricted to legal use), from inter- + marriage. Meaning "marriage between members of different classes, tribes, etc." is from c. 1600.

intermeddle (v.)

late 14c., entremedlen, "to mix together, blend," from Anglo-French entremedler, Old French entremesler; from inter- + Anglo-French medler (see meddle (v.)). From early 15c. as "involve oneself in what is not one's business."

intermediate (adj.)

"being or occurring between" (two things), early 15c., from Medieval Latin intermediatus "lying between," from Latin intermedius "that which is between," from inter "between" (see inter-) + medius "in the middle" (from PIE root *medhyo- "middle").

intermediate (v.)

c. 1600, "to interfere;" 1620s, "to mediate," from inter- "between" + mediate (v.). Related: Intermediated; intermediating.

intermediation (n.)

"intervention; interposition; intermediacy," c. 1600, noun of action from intermediate (v.).

intermediacy (n.)

"state or condition of being intermediate," 1713, from intermediate + abstract noun suffix -cy. Intermediateness is from 1826.

intermediary (adj.)

1757, "situated between two things;" 1818 as "serving as a mediator;" from French intermédiaire (17c.), from Latin intermedius "that which is between" (see intermediate). As a noun, "one who acts between others" from 1791 (Medieval Latin intermedium also was used as a noun). An earlier adjective was intermedial (1590s).

intermesh (v.)

1863, in reference to gears, from inter- "between" + mesh (v.). Related: Intermeshed; intermeshing.

intermezzo (n.)

1782, from Italian intermezzo "short dramatic performance (usually light and pleasing) between the acts of a play or opera," literally "that which is between," from Latin intermedius (see intermediate (adj.)).

intermigration (n.)

"reciprocal migration," 1670s, from inter- "between" + migration.

interminate (adj.)

1530s, from Latin interminatus "unbounded, endless," from in- "not" (see in- (1)) + terminalis "pertaining to a boundary or end, final," from terminus "end, boundary line" (see terminus).

interminable (adj.)

late 14c., from Old French interminable (14c.) or directly from Late Latin interminabilis "endless," from in- "not" (see in- (1)) + terminabilis, from terminare "to limit, set bounds, end" (see terminus (adj.)). Related: Interminably.

intermingle (v.)

late 15c. (trans.), from inter- "between" + mingle (v.). Intransitive sense from 1620s. Related: Intermingled; intermingling.

interministerial (adj.)

1917, in reference to branches of government, from inter- "between" + ministerial.

intermission (n.)

early 15c., "fact of intermitting, temporary pause," from Latin intermissionem (nominative intermissio) "a breaking off, discontinuance, interruption," noun of action from past participle stem of intermittere "to leave off, leave an interval," from inter "between" (see inter-) + mittere "let go, send" (see mission). Meaning "lapse of time between events" is from 1560s; specifically of performances (originally plays, later movies, etc.) from 1854.

intermissive (adj.)

"not continuous," 1580s, from Latin intermiss-, past-participle stem of intermittere "leave off, leave an interval" (see intermit).

intermit (v.)

1540s, "to interrupt" (obsolete); 1570s as "to discontinue for a time, suspend" (trans.) and "cease for a time" (intrans.), from Latin intermittere "to leave off, leave an interval, omit, suspend, interrupt, neglect," from inter "between" (see inter-) + mittere "to send" (see mission). Related: Intermitted; intermitting.