Etymologically
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interventio

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 16 October 2026 at 18:08. This address is a permanent link to this version.
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Pronunciation

  • IPA (Classical): [ɪn.tɛrˈwɛn.ti.oː][1]
  • IPA (Ecclesiastical): [in.terˈvɛn.t͡si.o][1]

Forms

interventiō f (genitive interventiōnis); third declension[1]

Etymology

It is from interveniō “to come between, intervene” with the suffix -tiō.[2][1][3]

Earliest recorded meaning

Köbler's first source is Ulpian, whom he dates before 223 AD, and the Digest uses it of standing surety.[4][5][6]

Semantic evolution

In law it meant an intervention as a surety, an interposing, a giving of security.[2][5][6] Lewis & Short call it post-classical.[5]

In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant intervention, intercession.[7] In Medieval Latin it meant intercession, and presence, interference.[8] British Medieval Latin used it for intercession with God or with a person.[9] It gave English intervention in the early 15th century, “intercession, intercessory prayer”.[3]

Timeline

  • before 223 AD – Ulpian uses it of surety.[4][6]
  • early 15th century – English intervention is recorded.[3]

Meanings

Noun

  1. (law) A standing surety.[2]
  2. (Ecclesiastical Latin) Intercession, intervention.[7][8]

References

  1. ^ a b c d 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 Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  4. ^ a b Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
  5. ^ a b c Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  6. ^ a b c Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
  7. ^ a b Stelten, Leo F. (1995), Dictionary of Ecclesiastical Latin, Peabody, Mass.: Hendrickson
  8. ^ a b Niermeyer, J. F. (1976), Mediae Latinitatis Lexicon Minus, Leiden: Brill
  9. ^ Latham, R. E., D. R. Howlett, R. K. Ashdowne, et al. (1975–2013), Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, London: British Academy / Oxford University Press