"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. ETD inter (v.).2
"act on each other, act reciprocally," 1805, from inter- + act (v.). Related: Interacted; interacting. ETD interact (v.).2
"acting upon or influencing each other," 1832, from interact (v.), probably on model of active. Related: Interactively; interactivity. ETD interactive (adj.).2
1812, from inter- + action. ETD interaction (n.).2
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. ETD inter alia.2
"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). ETD interamnian (adj.).2
"intermingle," 1823, from inter- + blend (v.). Related: Interblended; interblending. ETD interblend (v.).2
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. ETD interbreed (v.).2
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. ETD intercalation (n.).2
"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. ETD intercalate (v.).2
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. ETD intercalate (v.).3
"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. ETD intercalary (adj.).2
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. ETD intercede (v.).2
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. ETD interception (n.).2
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. ETD intercept (v.).2
"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. ETD intercept (n.).2
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. ETD interceptor (n.).2
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. ETD intercession (n.).2
"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. ETD intercessor (n.).2
late 14c., entrechaungeable, "mutual, reciprocal," from inter- + changeable. Meaning "capable of being used in place of each other" is from 1560s. Related: Interchangeably. ETD interchangeable (adj.).2
1763; see interchangeable + -ity. ETD interchangeability (n.).2
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. ETD interchange (v.).2
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. ETD interchange (n.).2
"within the coasts," 1927, from inter- + coastal. ETD intercoastal (adj.).2
1873, from inter- + collegiate. ETD intercollegiate (adj.).2
"radio or telephone intercommunication system," 1937, colloquial shortening of intercommunication, which is attested from 1911 in reference to systems of linked telephones. ETD intercom (n.).2
mid-15c., "discussion, conference," from Anglo-Latin intercommunicationem; see inter- + communication. Attested from 1881 in reference to systems of linked telephones. ETD intercommunication (n.).2
1580s, "communicate reciprocally," from inter- + communicate (v.) or else from Medieval Latin intercommunicatus, past participle of intercommunicare. ETD intercommunicate (v.).2
1749, "intimate intercourse, fellowship," from inter- "between" + communion (n.). ETD intercommunion (n.).2
1863, from inter- + connect (v.). Related: Interconnected; interconnecting. ETD interconnect (v.).2
1873, noun of state from past participle of interconnect + -ness. Interconnection is attested from 1827. ETD interconnectedness (n.).2
1825, American English, from inter- "between" + continental (adj.). Of missiles, from 1956. ETD intercontinental (adj.).2
"between the ribs," 1590s; see inter- + costal. ETD intercostal (adj.).2
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"). ETD intercourse (n.).2
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." ETD intercourse (n.).3
"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. ETD intercrural (adj.).2
also inter-departmental, 1861, from inter- + departmental. ETD interdepartmental (adj.).2
1816 (Coleridge), from inter- + dependence. ETD interdependence (n.).2
1817 (Coleridge), from inter- + dependent. Related: Interdependently. ETD interdependent (adj.).2
1830, from interdependent + abstract noun suffix -cy. ETD interdependency (n.).2
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. ETD interdict (v.).2
mid-15c., enterdiccioun, from Latin interdictionem (nominative interdictio) "a prohibiting, a forbidding," noun of action from past participle stem of interdicere (see interdict). ETD interdiction (n.).2
1937, from inter- + disciplinary. ETD interdisciplinary (adj.).2
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. ETD interesting (adj.).2
"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. ETD interest (v.).2
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. ETD interest (n.).2
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). ETD interest (n.).3
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. ETD interest (n.).4
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. ETD interested (adj.).2
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. ETD interface (n.).2
1837, of crystals, from inter- "between" + facial (adj.). ETD interfacial (adj.).2
1921, from inter- + faith. ETD interfaith (adj.).2
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. ETD interference (n.).2
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"). ETD interfere (v.).2
Figurative sense of "to meddle with, oppose unrightfully" is from 1630s. Related: Interfered; interfering. Modern French interférer is from English. ETD interfere (v.).3
"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. ETD interferometer (n.).2
animal protein, 1957, coined in English from interfere + subatomic particle suffix -on; so called because it "interferes" with the reduplication of viruses. ETD interferon (n.).2
"a flowing into each other," 1839, from inter- + flow (n.). ETD interflow (n.).2
1570s, from inter- + fold (v.). Related: Interfolded; interfolding. ETD interfold (v.).2
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. ETD intergalactic (adj.).2
1964, from inter- + generation + -al (1). ETD intergenerational (adj.).2
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). ETD interglacial (adj.).2
"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. ETD interim (n.).2
1701, from interior + -ity. ETD interiority (n.).2
"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. ETD interior (n.).2
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. ETD interior (adj.).2
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. ETD interjacent (adj.).2
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. ETD interjection (n.).2
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. ETD interject (v.).2
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.)). ETD interlace (v.).2
Intransitive sense from 1590s. Television sense is from 1927. Related: Interlaced; interlacing; interlacement. The noun is 1904, from the verb. ETD interlace (v.).3
"artificial or auxilliary language," 1927, from inter- + language. ETD interlanguage (n.).2
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. ETD interlard (v.).2
"extra page in a book," usually left blank and for taking notes, 1741, from inter- "between" + leaf (n.). ETD interleaf (n.).2
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." ETD interleague (adj.).2
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. ETD interline (v.).2
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. ETD interlinear (adj.).2
"between or relating to two languages," 1854, from inter- "between" + lingual. Related: Interlingually. ETD interlingual (adj.).2
1630s, "to be locked together," from inter- "between" + lock (v.). Related: Interlocked; interlocking. As a noun, attested by 1856. ETD interlock (v.).2
"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"). ETD interlocution (n.).2
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"). ETD interlocutor (n.).2
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). ETD interlocutor (n.).3
"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. ETD interlope (v.).2
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.)). ETD interloper (n.).2
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. ETD interloper (n.).3
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. ETD interlude (n.).2
1570s, "to marry one another," from inter- + marry (v.). Meaning "to marry across families, castes, tribes, etc." is from 1610s. Related: Intermarried; intermarrying. ETD intermarry (v.).2
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. ETD intermarriage (n.).2
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." ETD intermeddle (v.).2
"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"). ETD intermediate (adj.).2
c. 1600, "to interfere;" 1620s, "to mediate," from inter- "between" + mediate (v.). Related: Intermediated; intermediating. ETD intermediate (v.).2
"intervention; interposition; intermediacy," c. 1600, noun of action from intermediate (v.). ETD intermediation (n.).2
"state or condition of being intermediate," 1713, from intermediate + abstract noun suffix -cy. Intermediateness is from 1826. ETD intermediacy (n.).2
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). ETD intermediary (adj.).2
1863, in reference to gears, from inter- "between" + mesh (v.). Related: Intermeshed; intermeshing. ETD intermesh (v.).2
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.)). ETD intermezzo (n.).2
"reciprocal migration," 1670s, from inter- "between" + migration. ETD intermigration (n.).2
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). ETD interminate (adj.).2
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. ETD interminable (adj.).2
late 15c. (trans.), from inter- "between" + mingle (v.). Intransitive sense from 1620s. Related: Intermingled; intermingling. ETD intermingle (v.).2
1917, in reference to branches of government, from inter- "between" + ministerial. ETD interministerial (adj.).2
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. ETD intermission (n.).2
"not continuous," 1580s, from Latin intermiss-, past-participle stem of intermittere "leave off, leave an interval" (see intermit). ETD intermissive (adj.).2
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. ETD intermit (v.).2
"stopping at intervals," 1620s, present-participle adjective from intermit (v.). Related: Intermittingly. ETD intermitting (adj.).2
c. 1600, from Latin intermittentem (nominative intermittens), present participle of intermittere "to leave off, cease, pause" (see intermission). Related: Intermittently. ETD intermittent (adj.).2
1796, from intermittent + -ence. Perhaps from French. Intermittency is from 1660s. ETD intermittence (n.).2
1550s (implied in intermixed), from inter- "between" + mix (v.). Originally transitive; intransitive sense is from 1722. Related: Intermixt; intermixing. ETD intermix (v.).2
1580s, "that which is mixed;" 1590s, "action of intermixing;" see inter- + mixture (n.). ETD intermixture (n.).2