intervene

 
Pronunciation: /ɪntəˈviːn/

verb

[no object]
  • 1take part in something so as to prevent or alter a result or course of events: he acted outside his authority when he intervened in the dispute [with infinitive]: their forces intervened to halt the attack
  • (of an event or circumstance) occur as a delay or obstacle to something being done: Christmas intervened and the investigation was suspended
  • interrupt verbally: [with direct speech]: ‘It’s true!’ he intervened
  • Law become involved in a lawsuit as a third party.
  • 2 (usually as adjective intervening) occur in the time between events: to occupy the intervening months she took a job in a hospital
  • be situated between things: they heard the sound of distant gunfire, muffled by the intervening trees

Derivatives

intervener

noun

intervenient

adjective

intervenor

noun

Origin:

late 16th century (in the sense 'come in as an extraneous factor or thing'): from Latin intervenire, from inter- 'between' + venire 'come'