intervene

[ in-ter-veen ]
/ ˌɪn tərˈvin /

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.

Origin of intervene

1580–90; < Latin intervenīre to come between, equivalent to inter- inter- + venīre to come; see convene

OTHER WORDS FROM intervene

re·in·ter·vene, verb (used without object), re·in·ter·vened, re·in·ter·ven·ing. un·in·ter·ven·ing, adjective

Example sentences from the Web for intervene

British Dictionary definitions for intervene

intervene
/ (ˌɪntəˈviːn) /

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 forms of intervene

intervener or intervenor, noun

Word Origin for intervene

C16: from Latin intervenīre to come between, from inter- + venīre to come