Etymology dictionary
intermodal (adj.) — intimate (v.)
intermodal (adj.)
1963, from inter- "between" + modal (adj.).
intermural (adj.)
1650s, from Latin intermuralis "situated between walls," from inter "between" (see inter-) + murus (genitive muralis) "wall" (see mural).
intern (v.1)
1866, "to confine within set limits," from French interner "send to the interior, confine," from interne "inner, internal" (14c.), from Latin internus "within, internal" (see internal; also compare intern (n.)).
internality (n.)
internal (adj.)
early 15c., "extending toward the interior," from Medieval Latin internalis, from Latin internus "within, inward, internal," figuratively "domestic," expanded from pre-Latin *interos, *interus "on the inside, inward," from PIE *en-ter- (source also of Old Church Slavonic anter, Sanskrit antar "within, between," Old High German unter "between," and the "down" sense of Old English under); suffixed (comparative) form of root *en "in."
Meaning "situated within" is from 1590s. Meaning "of or pertaining to the domestic affairs of a country (as in internal revenue) is from 1795; the notion is "pertaining to the subject itself; independent of others." Internal-combustion in reference to an engine in which fuel is burned inside it, is from 1884. Related: Internally.
internalization (n.)
1853, from internal + -ization.
internment (n.)
1840, "confinement within a place," from intern (v.1) + -ment. Compare French internement. Internment camp is attested from 1916.
intern (v.2)
"to act or serve as as a (medical) intern," 1933, from intern (n.). Related: Interned; interning.
intern (n.)
"one working under supervision as part of professional training," originally "assistant resident physician, doctor in training in a hospital," 1879, American English, from French interne "assistant doctor," noun use of interne "internal," from Latin internus "within, inward" (see internal). Extended to other professions (originally teaching) from 1963 in reference to one under training and acquiring practical experience.
international (adj.)
1780, coined by Jeremy Bentham from inter- "between" + national (adj.). In the phrase international jurisprudence. He footnotes the word with:
As a noun and with a capital -i-, it is short for International Working Men's Association, a socialistic worker's movement with global aims, the first chapter of which was founded in London by Marx in 1864. The group lends its name to "The Internationale" (from fem. of French international, which is from English), the socialist hymn, written 1871 by Eugène Pottier. International Dateline is from 1882. Related: Internationally (1821).
internalize (v.)
1856, American English, from internal + -ize. Related: Internalized; internalizing.
internationalism (n.)
1851, from international + -ism. Related: Internationalist.
internationalize (v.)
1864, from international (adj.) + -ize. Related: Internationalized; internationalizing.
internationalization (n.)
1860, with reference to law; see international + -ization.
internationalise (v.)
chiefly British English spelling of internalize (q.v.). For spelling, see -ize. Related: Internationalisation.
internee (n.)
"one who is interned," from intern (v.1) + -ee.
internecine (adj.)
1660s, "deadly, destructive," from Latin internecinus "very deadly, murderous, destructive," from internecare "kill or destroy," from inter (see inter-) + necare "kill" (from PIE root *nek- (1) "death").
Considered by OED as misinterpreted in Johnson's Dictionary [1755], which defined it as "endeavouring mutual destruction," but a notion of "mutually destructive" has been imported into the word in English because in English inter- usually conveys the idea of "mutual." The Latin prefix is said to have had here only an intensive sense; "the Latin word meant merely of or to extermination ... without implying that of both parties" [Fowler].
internet (n.)
1984, "the linked computer networks of the U.S. Defense Department," shortened from internetwork, inter-network, which was used from 1972 in reference to (then-hypothetical) networks involving many separate computers. From inter- "between" + network (n.). Associated Press style guide decapitalized it from 2016.
interneuron (n.)
1939, from neuron + first element from internuncial (adj.) "communicating between different parts of the body," from Latin internuncius "a messenger, mediator," from inter "between" (see inter-) + nuntius "messenger" (from PIE root *neu- "to shout").
internist (n.)
1897, from internal (medicine) + -ist.
internship (n.)
1899, from intern (n.) + -ship.
interoffice (adj.)
also inter-office, 1864, from inter- "between" + office (n.).
interoperable (adj.)
1969, from inter- "between" + operable. Related: Interoperability.
interpellate (v.)
1590s, "interrupt," from Latin interpellatus, past participle of interpellare "to interrupt by speaking" (see interpellation). Parliamentary sense of "question formally or publically" is from 1874, from French. Related: Interpellated; interpellating.
interpellation (n.)
late 15c., "an appeal" (obsolete), from Latin interpellationem (nominative interpellatio) "an interruption," noun of action from past participle stem of interpellare "to interrupt by speaking," from inter "between" (see inter-) + pellare, collateral form of pellere "to drive" (from PIE root *pel- (5) "to thrust, strike, drive"). The parliamentary sense is attested in English from 1837, from French.
interpenetration (n.)
1809, from inter- + penetration.
interpenetrate (v.)
1809, from inter- "between" + penetrate (v.). Related: Interpenetrated; interpenetrating.
interpersonal (adj.)
1911 (OED finds an isolated use from 1842), from inter- "between" + person (n.) + -al. Introduced in psychology (1938) by H.S. Sullivan (1892-1949) to describe behavior between people in an encounter. Related: Interpersonally.
interphase (n.)
in cytology, 1913, from German interphase (1912); see inter- "between" + phase (n.).
interplay (n.)
1838, from inter- "between" + play (n.). "Reciprocal play," thus "free interaction."
interplanetary (adj.)
1690s, "existing between planets," from inter- "between" + planet + -ary. In reference to travel between planets, attested from 1897. Boyle and Locke both used intermundane in the same sense; the Roman Epicureans had intermundia (neuter plural) for "spaces between the worlds" (translating Greek metakosmia).
interpolator (n.)
1650s, from Late Latin interpolator "one who corrupts or spoils," agent noun from past participle stem of Latin interpolare "to polish; to alter; to falsify" (see interpolate).
interpolation (n.)
1610s, "act of interpolating;" 1670s, "that which is interpolated," from French interpolation (17c.) or directly from Latin interpolationem (nominative interpolatio), noun of action from past participle stem of interpolare "to alter; falsify" (see interpolate).
interpolate (v.)
1610s, "to alter or enlarge (a writing) by inserting new material," from Latin interpolatus, past participle of interpolare "alter, freshen up, polish;" of writing, "falsify," from inter "among, between" (see inter-) + polare, which is related to polire "to smoothe, polish," from PIE root *pel- (5) "to thrust, strike, drive," the connecting notion being "to full cloth" [Watkins].
Sense evolved in Latin from "refurbish," to "alter appearance of," to "falsify (especially by adding new material)." Middle English had interpolen (early 15c.) in a similar sense. Related: Interpolated; interpolating.
interpose (v.)
1590s (transitive) "place between, cause to intervene;" 1610s (intransitive) "come between other things," from French interposer (14c.), from inter- "between" (see inter-) + poser "to place" (see pose (v.1)). Cockeram ("English Dictionarie," 1623) explains it as "To busie ones selfe where he needs not." Related: Interposed; interposing.
interposition (n.)
late 14c., from Old French interposicion "interpolation, intercalation; suspension, break" (12c.), from Latin interpositionem (nominative interpositio) "an insertion," noun of action from past participle stem of interponere "to put between, place among; put forward," from inter "between" (see inter-) + ponere "to put, place" (past participle positus; see position (n.)).
interpreter (n.)
"one who translates spoken languages; a translator of written texts," late 14c., from Old French interpreteor, entrepreteur, from Late Latin interpretator "an explainer," agent noun from interpretari "explain, expound" (see interpret).
interpretation (n.)
mid-14c. "a translated text, a translation" (late 13c. in Anglo-French), from Old French interpretacion, entrepretatiun "explanation, translation" (12c.) and directly from Latin interpretationem (nominative interpretatio) "explanation, exposition," noun of action from past participle stem of interpretari "explain, expound; understand" (see interpret).
From late 14c. as "act or process of explaining or interpreting; an explanation; construction placed upon an action." Meaning "dramatic or musical representation" is from 1880.
interpretable (adj.)
1610s, from Late Latin interpretabilis "that can be explained or translated," from Latin interpretari "explain, expound, understand" (see interpret).
interpret (v.)
late 14c., "expound the meaning of, render clear or explicit," from Old French interpreter "explain; translate" (13c.) and directly from Latin interpretari "explain, expound, understand," from interpres "agent, translator," from inter "between" (see inter-) + second element probably from PIE *per- (5) "to traffic in, sell." Related: Interpreted; interpreting.
interpretative (adj.)
"meant to explain," 1560s, from past participle stem of Latin interpretari "explain, expound; understand" (see interpret). Interpretive means the same but is considered to be less correctly formed, because -ive adjectives are normally formed on the Latin past participle. Related: Interpretatively.
interpretive (adj.)
1670s, from interpret + -ive, perhaps on model of assertive or other like words, where the -t- belongs to the Latin stem. The preferred formation is interpretative. Listed by Fowler among the words "that for one reason or another should not have been brought into existence."
interpunction (n.)
"punctuation, a point inserted in writing," 1610s, from Latin interpunctionem (nominative interpunctio) "a putting of points between (words), division by points," noun of action from past participle stem of interpungere "to put points between," from inter "between" (see inter-) + pungere "to prick, pierce" (from suffixed form of PIE root *peuk- "to prick").
interracial (adj.)
also inter-racial, "existing or taking place between races," 1883, from inter- "between" + racial (adj.).
interregnum (n.)
1580s, from Latin interregnum "an interval between two reigns," literally "between-reign," from inter "between" (see inter-) + regnum "kingship, dominion, rule, realm," related to regere "to rule, to direct, keep straight, guide" (from PIE root *reg- "move in a straight line," with derivatives meaning "to direct in a straight line," thus "to lead, rule"). In the republic, it meant a vacancy in the consulate. The earlier English noun was interreign (1530s), from French interrègne (14c.).
interrelation (n.)
1841, from inter- "between" + relation.
interrelate (v.)
also inter-relate, 1831 (implied in interrelated), transitive, "bring into reciprocal relation," from inter- "between" + relate (v.). Intransitive sense "come into reciprocal relation" is attested from 1912. Related: Interrelating.
interrelationship (n.)
also inter-relationship, "state of being interrelated," 1841, from inter- "between" + relationship.
interrogative (adj.)
"asking or denoting a question," c. 1500, from Late Latin interrogativus "pertaining to a question," from interrogat-, past participle stem of Latin interrogare "to ask, question, inquire; interrogate judicially, cross-examine," from inter "between" (see inter-) + rogare "to ask, to question," apparently a figurative use of a PIE verb meaning literally "to stretch out (the hand)," from root *reg- "move in a straight line." As a noun, "word implying a question," 1520s. Related: Interrogatively.
interrogation (n.)
late 14c., "a question;" c. 1500, "a questioning; a set of questions," from Old French interrogacion "a questioning" (13c.) or directly from Latin interrogationem (nominative interrogatio) "a question; questioning; judicial inquiry," noun of action from past participle stem of interrogare "to ask, question, inquire; interrogate judicially, cross-examine," from inter "between" (see inter-) + rogare "to ask, to question," apparently a figurative use of a PIE verb meaning literally "to stretch out (the hand)," from root *reg- "move in a straight line."
interrogator (n.)
1751, from French interrogateur (16c.) or directly from Late Latin interrogator, agent noun from Latin interrogare "to ask, question" (see interrogation).
interrogate (v.)
late 15c., a back-formation from interrogation or else from Latin interrogatus, past participle of interrogare "to ask, question, inquire; interrogate judicially, cross-examine," from inter "between" (see inter-) + rogare "to ask, to question," apparently a figurative use of a PIE verb meaning literally "to stretch out (the hand)," from root *reg- "move in a straight line." The Old French word was interroger (14c.) which yielded English interroge (late 15c.), now obsolete. Related: Interrogated; interrogating.
interrogatory (adj.)
"containing or expressing a question," 1570s, from Late Latin interrogatorius "consisting of questions," from past participle stem of Latin interrogare "to ask, question, inquire; interrogate judicially, cross-examine," from inter "between" (see inter-) + rogare "to ask, to question," apparently a figurative use of a PIE verb meaning literally "to stretch out (the hand)," from root *reg- "move in a straight line."
interrupt (v.)
c. 1400, "to interfere with a legal right," from Latin interruptus, past participle of interrumpere "break apart, break off, break through," from inter "between" (see inter-) + rumpere "to break" (see rupture (n.), and compare corrupt (adj.)). Meaning "to break into, break in upon, disturb the action of" (especially of speech) is from early 15c. in English (it is also in Latin). Related: Interrupted; interrupting.
interruption (n.)
late 14c., "a break of continuity," from Latin interruptionem (nominative interruptio) "a breaking off, interruption, interval," noun of action from past participle stem of interrumpere "to break apart, break off" (see interrupt (v.)). Meaning "a breaking in upon some action" is from c. 1400; that of "a pause, a temporary cessation" is early 15c.
interrupt (n.)
"action of interrupting," 1956, originally in computing in reference to programs, from interrupt (v.).
intersect (n.)
"point of intersection," 1850, from intersect (v.) or from Latin intersectum, neuter past pasticiple of intersecare. Earlier (1650s) it was used for "an insect."
intersection (n.)
1550s, "act or fact of crossing," from French intersection (14c.) and directly from Latin intersectionem (nominative intersectio) "a cutting asunder, intersection," noun of action from past-participle stem of intersecare "intersect, cut asunder," from inter- "between" (see inter-) + secare "to cut" (from PIE root *sek- "to cut"). In English originally a term in geometry; meaning "crossroads, a place of crossing" is from 1864. Related: Intersectional.
intersect (v.)
1610s (trans.), back-formation from intersection, or else from Latin intersectus, past participle of intersecare "intersect, cut asunder," from inter "between" (see inter-) + secare "to cut" (from PIE root *sek- "to cut"). Intransitive sense is from 1847. Related: Intersected; intersecting.
intersex (n.)
"one having characteristics of both sexes," 1917, from German intersexe (1915); see inter- "between" + sex (n.). Coined by German-born U.S. geneticist Richard Benedict Goldschmidt (1878-1958). Intersexual is from 1866 as "existing between the sexes, pertaining to both sexes;" from 1916 as "having both male and female characteristics." Related: intersexuality.
interspace (n.)
"space between" (any two things), early 15c., from Late Latin interspatium, from inter "between" (see inter-) + spatium (see space (n.)). As a verb, "fill or occupy the space between," 1832. Related: Interspaced; interspacing.
interspecific (adj.)
"existing between species," 1889, from inter- "between" + specific, used here as an adjective to go with species.
intersperse (v.)
1560s, from Latin interspersus "strewn, scattered, sprinkled upon," past participle of *interspergere, from inter- "between" (see inter-) + spargere "to scatter" (see sparse). Related: Interspersed; interspersing.
interspersion (n.)
1650s, noun of action from intersperse.
interstate (adj.)
1838, American English, in reference to traffic in slaves, from inter- "between" + state (n.) in the U.S. sense. Interstate commerce is that carried on by persons in one U.S. state with persons in another. The noun sense of "an interstate highway" is attested by 1975, American English.
interstellar (adj.)
1620s, "situated between or among the stars," in reference to the night sky (modern astronomical sense is from 1670s), from inter- "between" + Latin stella "star" (from PIE root *ster- (2) "star"). Intersiderial in the same sense is from 1650s.
interstice (n.)
early 15c., from Old French interstice (14c.) and directly from Latin interstitium "interval," literally "space between," from inter "between" (see inter-) + stem of stare "to stand" (from PIE root *sta- "to stand, make or be firm"). Related: Interstices.
interstitial (adj.)
"pertaining to or situated in an interstice," 1640s, from Latin interstitium "interval" (see interstice) + -al (1). Related: Interstitially.
intersubjective (adj.)
"existing between conscious minds" [OED], 1883, from German intersubjective (1881); see inter- "between" + subjective (adj.).
interterritorial (adj.)
also inter-territorial, 1827, from inter- "between" + territory + -al (1).
intertextuality (n.)
by 1974 in literary criticism, from inter- "between" + textual + -ity. Related: Intertextual (1879).
intertidal (adj.)
also inter-tidal, "between the high and low water marks," 1853, from inter- + tidal (adj.).
intertribal (adj.)
also inter-tribal, 1850; see inter- "between" + tribe (n.) + -al (1).
interturb (v.)
"to disturb by interruption" (obsolete), 1550s, from Latin inturbus, past participle of inturbare "disturb by interruption," from in- "in" (from PIE root *en "in") + turbare "to disturb, confuse" (see turbid). Related: Interturber (1530s).
intertwine (v.)
1640s (trans.), a hybrid from inter- + twine (v.). Intransitive sense is from 1782. Related: Intertwined; intertwining.
interurban (adj.)
1883, from inter- "between" + Latin urbs "city" (see urban (adj.)).
interval (n.)
early 14c., "time elapsed between two actions or events," from Old French intervalle "interval, interim" (14c.), earlier entreval (13c.) and directly from Late Latin intervallum "a space between, an interval of time, a distance," originally "space between palisades or ramparts" [OED], from inter "between" (see inter-) + vallum "rampart, palisade, wall," which is apparently a collective form of vallus "stake," from PIE *walso- "a post" (see wall (n.)).
Metaphoric sense of "gap in time" also was in Latin. From c. 1400 in English as "a pause, an interruption in a state or activity." Musical sense "difference in pitch between two tones" is from c. 1600. Related: Intervallic.
intervent (v.)
"to come between" (obsolete), 1590s, from Latin interventus, past participle of intervenire "to come between, interrupt," from inter- "between" (see inter-) + venire "to come," from a suffixed form of PIE root *gwa- "to go, come." Related: Intervented; interventing.
intervene (v.)
1580s, "intercept" (obsolete), a back-formation from intervention, or else from Latin intervenire "to come between, intervene; interrupt; stand in the way, oppose, hinder," from inter "between" (see inter-) + venire "to come," from a suffixed form of PIE root *gwa- "to go, come." Sense of "come between, fall or happen between" (of events) is from c. 1600; that of "interfere, interpose oneself between, act mediatorially" is from 1640s. Related: Intervened; intervener; intervening.
intervenient (adj.)
c. 1600, from Latin intervenientem (nominative interveniens), present participle of intervenire "to come between, interrupt," from inter "between" (see inter-) + venire "to come," from a suffixed form of PIE root *gwa- "to go, come." Related: Interveniently.
intervention (n.)
early 15c., intervencioun, "intercession, intercessory prayer," Late Latin interventionem (nominative interventio) "an interposing, a giving security," literally "a coming between," noun of action from past-participle stem of Latin intervenire "to come between, interrupt," from inter "between" (see inter-) + venire "to come" (from a suffixed form of PIE root *gwa- "to go, come"). Later "act of intervening" in any way; in 19c.-20c. often of international relations; by 1983 of interpersonal intrusions by friends or family meant to reform a life felt to be going wrong.
interventionism (n.)
1852, from intervention + -ism. Interventionist, as a noun, is recorded from 1846, originally in the international sense.
interview (v.)
in early use also enterview, enterveu, 1540s, "to have a personal meeting," from interview (n.). Meaning "have an interview with" (usually with intent to publish what is said" is from 1869. Related: Interviewed; interviewing.
interview (n.)
1510s, "face-to-face meeting, formal conference," from French entrevue, verbal noun from s'entrevoir "to see each other, visit each other briefly, have a glimpse of," from entre- "between" (see inter-) + Old French voir "to see" (from Latin videre, from PIE root *weid- "to see"). Modern French interview is from English. Journalistic sense "conversation with someone to obtain statements for publication" is from 1869 in American English.
Meaning "personal meeting to discuss hiring or employment" is by 1921; earlier it was used in military recruiting (1918).
interviewer (n.)
1868, in the journalistic sense, agent noun from interview (v.).
interviewee (n.)
1883, from interview (v.) + -ee.
intervocalic (adj.)
"between vowels," 1881, from inter- "between" + Latin vocalis "a vowel" (see vowel) + -ic.
inter-war (adj.)
1939, in reference to the period between the world wars, from inter- + war (n.).
interweave (v.)
1570s (trans.), hybrid from inter- + weave (v.). Intransitive sense from 1827. Related: Interweaving; interweaved; interwove; interwoven.
interwork (v.)
c. 1600, a hybrid from inter- "between" + work (v.). Related: interworking. Past tense can be either interworked or interwrought.
interwoven (adj.)
1640s, past participle of interweave (q.v.).
intestate (adj.)
late 14c., from Old French intestat (13c.) and directly from Latin intestatus "having made no will," from in- "not" (see in- (1)) + testatus, past participle of testari "make a will, bear witness" (see testament). As a noun, "one who has not made out a will," from 1650s.
intestacy (n.)
"condition of dying without leaving a valid will," 1740, from intestate + -acy.
intestines (n.)
"bowels," 1590s, from intestine, based on Latin intestina, neuter plural of intestinus (adj.) "internal, inward, intestine," from intus "within, on the inside," from PIE *entos, suffixed form of root *en "in" (see in (adv.)). Compare Sanskrit antastyam, Greek entosthia "bowels." The Old English word was hropp, literally "rope."
intestine (n.)
"lower part of the alimentary canal," early 15c., from Old French intestin (14c.) or directly from Latin intestinum "a gut," in plural (intestina), "intestines, bowels," noun use of neuter of adjective intestinus "inward, internal," from intus "within, on the inside" (from PIE *entos, suffixed form of root *en "in").
Distinction of large and small intestines in Middle English was made under the terms gross and subtle. Intestine also was used as an adjective in English 16c.-19c. with a sense (as in French) of "internal, domestic, civil."
intestinal (adj.)
early 15c., from medical Latin intestinalis, from Latin intestinum "an intestine, gut" (see intestine).
intice (v.)
obsolete spelling of entice. Related: Inticed; inticing.
Intifada (n.)
"Palestinian revolt," 1985, from Arabic, literally "a jumping up" (in reaction to something), from the verb intafada "to be shaken, shake oneself."
intimation (n.)
mid-15c., "action of making known," from Old French intimation (14c.), from Late Latin intimationem (nominative intimatio) "an announcement," noun of action from past-participle stem of Latin intimare "make known, announce, impress" (see intimate (adj.)). Meaning "action of expressing by suggestion or hint, indirect imparting of information" is from 1530s.
intimate (n.)
1650s, "familiar friend, person with whom one is intimate," from intimate (adj.). Sometimes 17c.-19c. in false Spanish form intimado. Latin intimus had a similar noun sense. Intimates as a commercial euphemism for "women's underwear" is from 1988.
intimate (v.)
1530s, "make known formally;" 1580s, "suggest indirectly," back-formation from intimation (which could explain the pronunciation) or else from Late Latin intimatus, past participle of intimare "to make known" (see intimate (adj.)). The Old French verb was intimer. Related: Intimated; intimating.