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intervene

[in-ter-veen]
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verb (used without object), in·ter·vened, in·ter·ven·ing.

to come between disputing people, groups, etc.; intercede; mediate.
to occur or be between two things.
to occur or happen between other events or periods: Nothing important intervened between the meetings.
(of things) to occur incidentally so as to modify or hinder: We enjoyed the picnic until a thunderstorm intervened.
to interfere with force or a threat of force: to intervene in the affairs of another country.
Law. to interpose and become a party to a suit pending between other parties.

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RELATED WORDS

intercede, negotiate, arbitrate, involve, interfere, meddle, intrude, settle, reconcile, separate, interpose, obtrude, intermediate, interrupt, part, sever, divide, bedevil, supervene, ensue

Origin of intervene

1580–90; < Latin intervenīre to come between, equivalent to inter- inter- + venīre to come; see convene
Related formsre·in·ter·vene, verb (used without object), re·in·ter·vened, re·in·ter·ven·ing.un·in·ter·ven·ing, adjective

Synonyms for intervene

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR intervene ON THESAURUS.COM
1. arbitrate, interpose.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

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British Dictionary definitions for intervene

intervene

verb (intr)

(often foll by in) to take a decisive or intrusive role (in) in order to modify or determine events or their outcome
(foll by in or between) to come or be (among or between)
(of a period of time) to occur between events or points in time
(of an event) to disturb or hinder a course of action
economics to take action to affect the market forces of an economy, esp to maintain the stability of a currency
law to interpose and become a party to a legal action between others, esp in order to protect one's interests
Derived Formsintervener or intervenor, noun

Word Origin for intervene

C16: from Latin intervenīre to come between, from inter- + venīre to come
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for intervene
v.

1580s, back-formation from intervention, or else from Latin intervenire "to come between, intervene, interrupt," from inter "between" (see inter-) + venire "to come" (see venue). Related: Intervened; intervening.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper