intervene

/ˈɪntərˌvin/

/ɪntəˈvin/

Other forms: intervening; intervened; intervenes

From the Latin "intervenire," meaning “to come between,” the verb intervene means just that: to get involved, to jump in the middle of something, to interfere.

The verb intervene was first recorded around 1600. Since then there haven't been many interventions in its meaning or usage. You should probably intervene in a heated verbal fight between two of your friends before it escalates and gets physical. Especially if they're debating the United States’ habit of intervening in international conflicts.

Definitions of intervene

1. verb

   be placed or located between other things or extend between spaces and events
   “This interludes intervenes between the two movements”

   “Eight days intervened”

   type of:

   lie

   be located or situated somewhere; occupy a certain position
2. verb

   occur between other events or between certain points of time
   “the war intervened between the birth of her two children”

   type of:

   come about, fall out, go on, hap, happen, occur, pass, pass off, take place

   come to pass
3. verb

   get involved, so as to alter or hinder an action, or through force or threat of force
   “Why did the U.S. not intervene earlier in WW II?”

   synonyms: interfere, interpose, step in

   types:

   meddle, tamper

   intrude in other people's affairs or business; interfere unwantedly

   interlope

   encroach on the rights of others, as in trading without a proper license

   type of:

   interact

   act together or towards others or with others