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.
2. A short movement serving as a connecting link between the main divisions (in the middle) of a large musical work, instrumental or vocal; sometimes used for an independent piece of similar character.
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2. A time interval during which there is a temporary cessation of something: Tom's professor announced a brief intermission during her lecture on astrophysics because the equipment she was using was malfunctioning.
3. A respite or recess: The judge ordered an intermission during the trial to allow the witness, who was upset, to calm down and relax before continuing her testimony.
4. The period between the acts of a theatrical or musical performance: During the intermission at the theater, Linda's parents went backstage to talk with the actors because they had worked together with each other many years before.
2. To suspend or cause to suspend an activity temporarily or periodically.
2. Stopping and starting at irregular times: Rain showers usually fall at intermittent intervals making it difficult to plan picnics out in the park in the summer.
3. Alternately containing and lowering of water: There are many examples of intermittent lakes; especially, in regions where there are unpredictable amounts of rain per year that may cause the lakes to rise when there is a lot of rain or to become lower when there is a drought.
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2. Pathological pain and cramp in the calf muscles which is aggravated by walking and caused by an insufficient supply of blood.
3. Pain in the leg muscles which occurs during exercise and is relieved by rest.
Intermittent, means coming and going at intervals, and claudication refers to limping.
This term was originally described in horses which went lame with exercise and then recovered with rest.
The Roman Emperor Claudius, who ruled from A.D. 41 to 54, is said to have received this name because he limped, presumably from a birth defect; and he also stammered.
The neurologic signs, which are sometimes minimal but are accentuated by walking, are those of a cauda equina syndrome or a dull pain in the lower back and upper buttock region, analgesia in the buttocks, genitalia (or thigh), accompanied by a disturbance of bowel and bladder function.