inter-

Forms

inter- (intel- before l)^[1][2]

Etymology

It is from Latin inter (“between, among”), the preposition and adverb used as a prefix.^[3][1] The preposition continues Proto-Indo-European *h₁(e)nter (“between”), a locatival adverb derived from *h₁(e)n (“in”).^[4]

Cognate with the preverbs Oscan anter- and Umbrian anter-.^[4]

Semantic evolution

It is combined mostly with verbs and with nouns made from verbs, adding one of the senses of the preposition: “between, among”, interruption, separation, intervals of time, and destruction.^[1][3] Before ⟨l⟩ it was spelled intel-, as in intellegō.^[2]

It was taken into English, which from the 15th century used it freely as a living prefix, with Latin and Germanic words alike.^[2]

Meanings

Prefix

1. between, among, in between (of place).^[3][1]
2. Denoting interruption or hindrance.^[3]
3. Apart, asunder.^[3]
4. (of time) At intervals, from time to time; for a while.^[3]
5. Denoting destruction or death, or strengthening verbs that already have this sense.^[3]

Word family

• intercēdō
• interficiō
• intellegō
• interdīcō
• intermittō
• interrumpō
• intersum
• intervallum
• interpōnō
• intereō

Related words

• English inter-

References

1. ^ a b c d Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
2. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
3. ^ a b c d e f g Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
4. ^ a b de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill