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
interurbanite
interval
1. A space between two objects, points, or units.
2. The amount of time between two specified situations, events, or conditions; an intervening period of time: "There was an interval of 50 years before we saw our uncle again."
3. A period of temporary cessation; a pause: "There were intervals between the blasting sounds of the loud music."
4. One of a series of predetermined distances covered at regular time increments with intermittent periods of rest in an athletic workout.
5. In mathematics: a set of numbers consisting of all the numbers between a pair of given numbers along with either, both, or none of the endpoints; a closed interval, an open interval, a half-open interval, a line segment representing the set of numbers in an interval.
6. Chiefly British: an intermission, as between acts of a play.
7. In music, the difference, usually expressed in the number of steps, between two pitches.
intervascular
1. Lying between or surrounded by blood vessels.
2. Between blood or lymph vessels.
intervene (verb), intervenes; intervened; intervening
1. To take some action or get involved in something in order to change what is happening: The police were called to intervene in the escalating conflict in order to prevent it becoming a big braw or scrimmage.
2. To occur and as a result to stop or delay something from happening: The fire alarm in school intervened or interrupted the teacher's presentation of the topic.
3. To take economic action that is designed to counter a trend in a market: The government intervened in the country's free trade in order to stabilize its currency.
intervention (s) (noun), inventions (pl)
1. An action undertaken in order to change what is happening or might happen in another’s affairs, especially in order to prevent something undesirable: Intervention was absolutely necessary when the two boys had a terrible fight on the playground.
2. The action of stepping in or interfering in any affair, so as to affect its course or issue: Intervention is frequently applied to the interference of a state or government in the domestic affairs or foreign relations of another country.
3. The fact of coming or being situated between in place, time, or order: The intervention of the fire caused a barrier between the city and the outskirts where Grace lived.
4. Economic action that is designed to counter a trend in a market: The intervention of the the central bank in the EU tried especially to stabilize a country’s currency.
interventricular foramen (s), interventricular foramina (pl) (nouns)
An opening between the lateral and third ventricles in a system of four communicating cavities within the brain that are connected to the central canal of the spinal cord: "The four ventricles consist of the two lateral ventricles, the third ventricle and the fourth ventricle:"
  1. Lateral ventricles: The lateral ventricles are in the cerebral hemispheres. Each lateral ventricle consists of a triangular central body and four horns.

    The lateral ventricles communicate with the third ventricle through the interventricular foramen (opening).

  2. The third ventricle is a median (midline) cavity in the brain that is bounded by the thalamus and hypothalamus on either side.

    Anteriorly (in front) the third ventricle communicates with the lateral ventricles and posteriorly (in back) the third ventricle communicates with what is called the aqueduct of the midbrain (or the aqueduct of Sylvius).

  3. The fourth ventricle is the most inferior (lowest) of the four ventricles of the brain.

    It extends from the aqueduct of the midbrain to the central canal of the upper end of the spinal cord with which it communicates by the two foramina (openings) of Luschka and the foramen (opening) of Magendie.

    The ventricles are filled with cerebrospinal fluid, which is formed by structures called choroid plexuses located in the walls and roofs of the ventricles.

interverbal
Placed between words.
intervertebral disc (s) (noun), intervertebral discs (pl)
Plates of fibrocartilage placed between two vertebrae (special types of bones that form the spinal column), covering their inferior and superior surfaces: "The intervertebral discs play a primary use in weight bearing and a lesser degree in movement."

"The intervertebral discs or nucleus pulposus (soft moist solid) are fibro-cartilaginous discs that lie between the vertebral bodies in the spine."

These intervertebral disks are composed of a central gelatinous-like material that provide a cushioning or shock absorbing quality to the spinal column to axial stress. The discs may herniate or rupture, resulting in a condition known as a radiculopathy."

intervertebral foramen (s) (noun), intervertebral foramina (pl)
An opening between vertebrae through which nerves leave the spine and extend to other parts of the body.
interview
1. A meeting during which someone is asked questions; for example, by a prospective employer, a journalist, or a researcher.
2. A transcript, report on, or recording of a questioning session.
3. A session during which a person is asked a series of questions.
4. Etymology: "face-to-face meeting, formal conference"; from Middle French entrevue, a verbal noun from s'entrevoir, "to see each other, to visit each other briefly, to have a glimpse of"; from entre-, "between"; from Latin inter- + Old French voir, "to see"; which came from Latin videre, "to see".
interviewable (adjective) (not comparable)
1. Disposed to be asked questions for a report: For his German class at school, Doug was interviewable for the other students so that they could complete their composition regarding the private life of a teenager!
2. Capable of answering facts, or statements, which are elicited from another person: When the newspaper reporters came to the firm, Mr. Thompson was interviewable and could respond to any queries made by the journalists regarding the company's financial situation.
interviewer
1. Someone who interviews or conducts a formal meeting, in person, for the assessment of a candidate or applicant.
2. Anyone who is responsible for a conversation in which facts or opinions are sought.
intervocalic (adjective), more intervocalic, most intervocalic
A description of a speech sound that occurs, or is inserted, between vowels; for example, between one word that ends with a vowel and another word that starts with a vowel: Some intervocalic sounds can be found in such words as "metal" and "batter"; the consonant in the term "metal" is a "t" placed between the two vowels "e" and "a", and so the "t" sounds like a "d"; in "batter", the letter "t" appears twice and is between the vowels "a" and "e" and, when pronounced, sound like "badder".
interweave
malinterdigitation (s) noun), malinterdigitations (pl)
A dental condition in which the upper and lower teeth are not properly lined up when biting or chewing: The orthodontist fitted Judy with a brace to help her overcome the malinterdigitation or misalignment of her teeth.

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-.