intermitto Latin · revision 8369

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=Plautus|origins=la mittō}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA (Classical): [ɪn.tɛrˈmɪt.toː]^(Wiktionary)

+ * IPA (Ecclesiastical): [in.terˈmit.to]^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Forms==

+ '''intermittō''' (present infinitive intermittere, perfect active intermīsī, supine intermissum); third conjugation^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is from [[inter-]] “between” and [[mittō]] “to send, let go”.^(OLD 2012)^(Wiktionary)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ The OLD's earliest citation is from Plautus, of letting time pass.^(OLD 2012) Köbler dates Plautus c. 250–184 BC.^(Köbler 2010)

+

+ ==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.^(OLD 2012) In Caesar it meant to leave a space between, in Varro to leave something unused for a time, and in Columella to omit.^(OLD 2012) 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.^(Döderlein 1874)

+

+ In Ecclesiastical Latin it meant to interrupt, suspend, pause, leave a space between.^(Stelten 1995) It survives in Italian ''intermettere'' and Spanish ''entremeterse'', and was borrowed as [[en|intermit]] in the 1540s; its participle ''intermittēns'' gave [[en|intermittent]] about 1600.^(Wiktionary)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 250–184 BC – Plautus uses it of an interval of time.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * 234–149 BC – Cato uses it of interrupting.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 50 BC – Caesar uses it of space.^(OLD 2012)^(Köbler 2010)

+ * c. 1600 – English ''intermittent'' is recorded.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Meanings==

+ ===Verb===

+ # To interrupt, discontinue for a time.^(OLD 2012)

+ # To leave off; of a fever, to [[m|en|intermit]].^(OLD 2012)

+ # To let (time) pass.^(OLD 2012)

+ # To leave (a space) between.^(OLD 2012)

+ # To omit.^(OLD 2012)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[intermissiō]]

+ * [[intermissus]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[mittō]]

+ * [[en|intermittent]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ Döderlein distinguishes it from [[omittō]].^(Döderlein 1874)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}