Etymologically
Log in

interscindo

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 20 October 2026 at 13:26. This address is a permanent link to this version.
Changes in this edit History

Pronunciation

  • Classical: [ɪn.tɛrˈskɪn.doː][1]
  • Ecclesiastical: [in.terˈʃin.do][1]

Forms

interscindō (present infinitive interscindere, perfect active interscidī, supine interscissum); third conjugation[1]

Etymology

It is from Latin inter- (“between”) + scindō (“to cut, tear”).[2][3] De Vaan derives the simple verb from Proto-Italic *ski-n-d-e/o- and Proto-Indo-European *ski-n-d- (“to split, tear off”).[4] The TLL notes that manuscripts confuse it with intercīdō2 (“to cut through”).[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

Cicero is the first to use it:[5][2] in the De legibus he mentions Cocles standing alone on the bridge, ut … pontem interscindi iuberet, “so that he might order the bridge to be cut down”.[5][2]

Semantic evolution

Caesar uses it of breaking down a bridge and of cutting through a siege mound,[5][6] and Tacitus of opening the veins of the arms.[5][7] Figuratively it is to separate: Livy says Chalcis is cut off by a narrow strait, and Seneca that an island is separated from Italy by a strait.[5] Seneca also says that the joy of those not yet perfect is interrupted,[5][8] and Ammianus uses it of a river dividing regions.[7]

Timeline

  • 81–43 BC – Cicero uses it of cutting down a bridge.[5][2][9]
  • c. 50 BC – Caesar uses it of bridges and siege works.[5][6][9]
  • 59 BC–17 AD – Livy uses it of a strait separating Chalcis.[5][9]
  • 4 BC–65 AD – Seneca uses it of interrupted joy.[5][8][9]
  • c. 390 AD – Ammianus uses it of a river dividing regions.[7][9]

Meanings

Verb

  1. To cut through, sever, break down (a bridge, a mound); to open (veins).[5][6][7]
  2. To cut short, interrupt.[5][8]
  3. To separate, divide, cut off.[5][7]

References

  1. ^ a b c Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e Thesaurus linguae Latinae (1900–), Leipzig: Teubner; Berlin: De Gruyter; open-access ed., Munich: Bayerische Akademie der Wissenschaften
  3. ^ Bianchi, Rossella; Lelli, Olga (2014), VOLI: Vocabolario di latino, Florence: Le Monnier
  4. ^ de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  6. ^ a b c Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  7. ^ a b c d e Georges, Karl Ernst (1913–1918), Ausführliches lateinisch-deutsches Handwörterbuch, 8th ed., ed. Heinrich Georges, Hannover; Leipzig: Hahn
  8. ^ a b c Conte, Gian Biagio; Pianezzola, Emilio; Ranucci, Giuliano (2010), il Latino: Vocabolario della lingua latina, 3rd ed., Florence: Le Monnier
  9. ^ a b c d e Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de