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.
intersect
intersection
interseismic
1. An interval between earthquake activities.
2. Between one seismic action and another one.
intersomnial
Occurring in the midst of a dream
intersomnious
Between sleeping and waking.
interspace
interspatial
interspatially
interspersal
The act of combining one thing at intervals among other things; such as, the interspersion of illustrations in a text.
intersperse, interspersing,
1. To distribute among other things at intervals: "They interspersed red and blue tiles on the walls." "One should always try to intersperse praise with constructive criticism."
2. To supply or diversify with things distributed at intervals: "There were several interspersed lamp fixtures on the large ceiling." "The newspaper section was interspersed with several advertisements."
3. To diversify with something placed or scattered at intervals.
interspersion
The act of combining one thing at intervals among other things.
interspinal
interstate
interstellar
interstice
Related "together" units:
com-;
greg-;
struct-.
Cross references of word families related directly, or indirectly, to: "internal organs, entrails, inside":
ent-;
enter-;
fistul-;
incret-;
intra-;
splanchn-;
viscer-.
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