intervene
[in-ter-veen]
- 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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Origin of intervene
Synonyms
See more synonyms for on Thesaurus.comDictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for intervening
Contemporary Examples
Yet their work lives on, and hardly seems to have lost any of its vitality during the intervening years.
Israelis have been intervening in American politics for years.
On November 24, 1986, the NSPG met from 2:00 until 3:45 in the afternoon to discuss developments in the intervening two weeks.
How the Reagan White House Bungled Its Response to Iran-Contra RevelationsMalcolm Byrne
November 3, 2014
Eventually, the U.S. pulled back from intervening in Syria—well, at least for a year or so.
I suppose in the intervening years I always assumed someone else would make a film about him.
Historical Examples
The intervening time had been one of what I may call spiritual ups and downs.
The Conquest of FearBasil King
A glance at the intervening ground, another through his sights.
The Leopard WomanStewart Edward White
In the intervening period of waiting my mind underwent a change.
Adventures and RecollectionsBill o'th' Hoylus End
In some respects, these intervening days were the hardest ones she had to bear.
The Dominant StrainAnna Chapin Ray
The suffragists had spent the intervening ten months in a campaign of their own.
intervene
- (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
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Word Origin
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
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Word Origin and History for intervening
intervene
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper