Etymologically
Log in

intermitto

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 16 October 2026 at 16:02. This address is a permanent link to this version.
Changes in this edit History

Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ɪn.tɛrˈmɪt.toː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [in.terˈmit.to][1]

Forms

intermittō (present infinitive intermittere, perfect active intermīsī, supine intermissum); third conjugation[1]

Etymology

It is from inter- “between” and mittō “to send, let go”.[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest citation is from Plautus, of letting time pass.[2] Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.[4]

Semantic evolution

It meant to interrupt, discontinue for a time, and to leave off, of a fever to intermit, as in Cato, and in Plautus to let an interval of time pass.[2] In Caesar it meant to leave a space between, in Varro to leave something unused for a time, and in Columella to omit.[2] Döderlein explains that intermittere is to leave off for a time, meaning to resume, while omittere is to leave out altogether, quoting Varro: let studies be interrupted, not abandoned.[5]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant to interrupt, suspend, pause, leave a space between.[6] It survives in Italian intermettere and Spanish entremeterse, and was borrowed as English intermit in the 1540s; its participle intermittēns gave English intermittent about 1600.[1][3]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of an interval of time.[2][4]
  • 234–149 BC – Cato uses it of interrupting.[2][4]
  • c. 50 BC – Caesar uses it of space.[2][4]
  • c. 1600 – English intermittent is recorded.[3]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To interrupt, discontinue for a time.[2]
  2. To leave off; of a fever, to intermit.[2]
  3. To let (time) pass.[2]
  4. To leave (a space) between.[2]
  5. To omit.[2]

Word family

  • intermissiō
  • intermissus

Usage notes

Döderlein distinguishes it from omittō.[5]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ a b c Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  4. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ a b Döderlein, Ludwig (1874), Döderlein’s Hand-book of Latin Synonymes, tr. H. H. Arnold, Andover: W. F. Draper
  6. ^ Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson