inter-, intero-

(Latin: between; among, mutually, together; on the inside, internal)

Although abstracted from the many compounds in which it entered English, the form inter- was not generally considered a living prefix in English until the 1400s.

During the later period of Middle English many words borrowed in the Old and Middle French forms entre-, enter- began to be consciously respelled with Latin inter-; although vestiges of the older French borrowings are found in entertain and enterprise.

The living prefix inter- is now freely added to almost any element in English to create such formations with the meaning of "between" and "among". The words formed by intra- are closely related to this inter- prefix; in fact, they both apparently came from the same Latin source.

—Based on information from Barnhart Dictionary of Etymology


interferer
1. Anyone who creates a hindrance or obstacle.
2. Someone who intervenes or intrudes in the affairs of others; a meddler.
interferes
Anyone who enters into, or takes part in, the concerns of others; including checking, hampering, hindering, infringing, encroaching, trespassing, disturbing, intervening, intermeddling (improperly interfering), and interposing.
interfering
1. Intruding in a meddling or offensive manner.
2. Deliberately becoming involved in other people's affairs in a way that is neither needed nor welcome.
interferingly
1. Characterized by unwanted, unwarranted, or unnecessary intrusion or meddling.
2. A description of the intervention, without being asked, in the affairs of others and often in an impudent or indiscreet manner.
interferon
1. A protein produced by cells in response to virus infection that inhibits viral replication.
2. A naturally occurring substance that interferes with the ability of viruses to reproduce.

Interferon also boosts the immune system.

There are a number of different interferons. They fall into three main classes: alpha, beta, and gamma.

All are proteins (lymphokines) normally produced by the body in response to infection. The interferons have been synthesized using recombinant DNA technology.

3. Etymology: coined from English interfere + -on, a chemical suffix for "particle"; in 1957, by co-discoverers, Scots virologist, Alick Isaacs and Swiss microbiologist, Jean Lindenmann, at the National Institute for Medical Research in London.

The term, interferon, came into use because the protein, or substance, "interferes" with the reduplication of viruses or virus reproduction.

interferons
Representing a family of glycoproteins derived from human cells which normally have a role in fighting viral infections by preventing virus multiplication in cells.

They are secreted by vertebrate cells in response to a wide variety of inducers and confer resistance against many different viruses, inhibit proliferation of normal and malignant cells, impede multiplication of intracellular parasites, enhance macrophage and granulocyte phagocytosis, augment natural killer cell activity, and show several other immunomodulatory functions.

Interferon-alpha is made by leucocytes and interferon-gamma by fibroblasts after viral infection.

Interferon-alpha and interferon-beta are also called type I interferons, interferon-gamma as type II interferons, and they are more normally classified as cytokines.

interfluvial
Situated between (the valleys of) adjacent watercourses.
interfoliaceous
interfollicular
Between follicles; as, the interfollicular septa (dividing wall or partition) in a lymphatic (vessel) gland.
interfraternal
Existing or carried on between brothers.
interfulgent
Shining between.
interfuse
1. To mingle, blend, or fuse thoroughly, or to mix two or more things in this way.
2. To intersperse, intermingle, or to permeate with something.
3. To blend or to fuse, one with another.
4. To pour or to pass (something) between, into, or through; to infuse.
interfusion
1. Causing something to permeate or to spread throughout, as a fluid between or among parts, tissues, etc.
2. To intermix or to combine.
intergalactic
interglacial, interglacials
1. A comparatively short period of warmth during an overall period of glaciation.
2. A period when a warmer climate separated two periods of glaciation and displayed a characteristic sequence of changes in vegetation.

The term is used especially for several such periods that occurred during the Pleistocene epoch, lasting from 1.8 million to 10,000 years ago.

3. A period of warm climate during the Pleistocene (and earlier glacial epochs) during which continental glaciers retreated to a minimum extent.

Interglacials have been of approximately 10,000 years duration, spaced at approximately 100,000-year intervals over the last 1,000,000 years. The last 10,000 years, or postglacial period, is generally considered to be interglacial.


Related "together" units: com-; greg-; struct-.

Cross references of word families related directly, or indirectly, to: "internal organs, entrails, inside": ent-; enter-; fistul-; incret-; intra-; splanchn-; viscer-.


If there are any numbers below, use them to see other pages in this unit.

Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Next

Showing page 5 out of 15 pages of 215 main-word entries or main-word-entry groups.

Back to Index | Search Box | Main Index

The Main-Word Info page

The + sign at the end of a unit title means all of the words in that unit have definitions.

Directory of special content and topics

Do you want to help to make this dictionary bigger and better?

Subscribe to this FREE Focusing on Words Newsletter

E-mail Contact words@wordinfo.info




Google
 
Web Search Word Info Search