Etymologically
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interea

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Forms

intereā (not comparable)[1]

Etymology

It is formed from inter (“between, during”) and ⟨eā⟩, the feminine ablative singular of is (“this, that”).[2][3] It is built like anteā and posteā.[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler dates it from Livius Andronicus.[3] Terence has saepe intereā mihi senex nārrābat, “meanwhile the old man often told me”.[4]

Semantic evolution

Intereā is “in the meantime, meanwhile” (Cicero: intereā diēs advēnit, “meanwhile the day arrived”), and with cum “while all the time”.[2][4][1] Wiktionary and Church Latin also give “nevertheless, anyhow”.[1][5]

Timeline

  • 280/260–before 200 BC – Livius Andronicus uses it.[3]
  • 190–159 BC – Terence: saepe intereā mihi senex nārrābat.[4][3]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero: intereā diēs advēnit.[4][3]

Meanings

Adverb

  1. meanwhile, in the meantime.[2][4][1][5]
  2. nevertheless, anyhow.[1][5]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c d e Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  4. ^ a b c d e f Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  5. ^ a b c Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson