interpose

See also: interposé

English

WOTD – 2 June 2010

Etymology

From Middle French interposer, influenced by poser (“to place, put”), from Latin interpōnō, from inter (“between”) + pōnō (“to place, put”).

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˌɪn.təˈpəʊz/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˌɪn.tɚˈpoʊz/

• Audio (General Australian):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -əʊz
• Hyphenation: in‧ter‧pose

Verb

interpose (third-person singular simple present interposes, present participle interposing, simple past and past participle interposed)

1. (transitive) To insert something (or oneself) between other things.

   to interpose a screen between the eye and the light

   • 1599 (first performance), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Iulius Cæsar”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene i]:

     What watchful cares do interpose themselves
     Betwixt your eyes and night?

   • 1785, William Cowper, “Book I. The Sofa.”, in The Task, a Poem, […], London: […] J[oseph] Johnson;  […], →OCLC, page 30:

     Lands intersected by a narrow frith
     Abhor each other. Mountains interposed
     Make enemies of nations who had else
     Like kindred drops been mingled into one.

2. (transitive) To interrupt a conversation by introducing a different subject or making a comment.
   • 1667, John Milton, “Book XII”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC, lines 1-5:

     As one who in his journey bates at Noone,
     Though bent on speed, so her the Archangel paused
     Betwixt the world destroyed and world restored,
     If Adam aught perhaps might interpose;
     Then with transition sweet new Speech resumes.

   • 1846 October 1 – 1848 April 1, Charles Dickens, Dombey and Son, London: Bradbury and Evans, […], published 1848, →OCLC:

     “A beautiful country!”
     “I suppose it is. Everybody says so.”
     “Your cousin Feenix raves about it, Edith,” interposed her mother from her couch.

3. (transitive) To offer (one's help or services).
4. (intransitive) To be inserted between parts or things; to come between.
   • 1781 (date written), William Cowper, “Truth”, in Poems, London: […] J[oseph] Johnson, […], published 1782, →OCLC:

     Suppose, unlook’d for in a scene so rude,
     Long hid by interposing hill or wood,
     Some mansion neat and elegantly dress’d,
     By some kind hospitable heart possess’d
     Offer him warmth, security and rest;

5. (intransitive) To intervene in a dispute, or in a conversation.
   • 1749, Henry Fielding, chapter IX, in The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling, volume (please specify |volume=I to VI), London: A[ndrew] Millar, […], →OCLC, book V:

     The doctor now interposed, and prevented the effects of a wrath which was kindling between Jones and Thwackum […]

   • 1814 May 9, [Jane Austen], chapter VIII, in Mansfield Park: […], volume II, London: […] [George Sidney] for T[homas] Egerton, […], →OCLC, page 170:

     "My daughters," replied Sir Thomas, gravely interposing, "have their pleasures at Brighton, and I hope are very happy; […] "

Synonyms

• (To insert something (or oneself) between other things): insert
• (To interrupt a conversation by introducing a different subject or making a comment): interrupt

Translations

to insert something (or oneself) between other things

• Armenian: մտցնել (hy) (mtcʻnel), միջադրել (hy) (miǰadrel), ներդնել (hy) (nerdnel)
• Bulgarian: вмъквам (bg) (vmǎkvam)
• Dutch: tussenzetten (nl)
• Finnish: laittaa väliin
• French: interposer (fr), intercaler (fr)
• Greek: παρεμβάλλω (el) (paremvállo)
• Kurdish:

  Northern Kurdish: danîn nav, xistin nav (ku)

• Ladino: enkashar
• Maori: kōkuhu
• Polish: wstawić (pl)
• Portuguese: interpor (pt)
• Russian: вставля́ть (ru) (vstavljátʹ), помеща́ть (ru) (pomeščátʹ)
• Spanish: interponer (es), intercalar (es), mediar (es)

to interrupt a conversation by introducing a different subject or making a comment

• Bulgarian: прекъсвам (bg) (prekǎsvam)
• Dutch: tussenkomen (nl), in de rede vallen
• Finnish: keskeyttää (fi)
• French: interrompre (fr), couper (fr), casser le fil
• Greek: παρεμβαίνω (el) (paremvaíno)
• Maori: kohiko, aruaru
• Polish: wtrącić (pl)
• Russian: прерыва́ть (ru) (preryvátʹ), перебива́ть (ru) (perebivátʹ), (somewhat) вме́шиваться (ru) (vméšivatʹsja)
• Spanish: interrumpir (es)
• Swedish: inskjuta (sv)

to be inserted between parts or things

• Finnish: tulla väliin
• Maori: kuhi
• Russian: вклиниваться (ru) (vklinivatʹsja)

to intervene in a dispute, or in a conversation

• Armenian: միջամտել (hy) (miǰamtel)
• Bulgarian: намесвам се (namesvam se)
• Dutch: tussenbeide komen
• Finnish: keskeyttää (fi)
• French: s’interposer (fr), se mêler à, se jeter dans la mêlée, semer la merde (vulgar)
• Spanish: interponerse (es), meterse en, lanzarse a la pelea

The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.

Translations to be checked

• French: ^{(please verify)} intercalé (fr)
• Scottish Gaelic: ^{(please verify)} eadar-chuir
• Spanish: ^{(please verify)} intercalado (es)

Anagrams

• entropies, isentrope, tropeines

French

Pronunciation

• Audio:

  (file)

• Homophones: interposent, interposes

Verb

interpose

1. inflection of interposer:
   1. first/third-person singular present indicative/subjunctive
   2. second-person singular imperative

Italian

Verb

interpose

1. third-person singular past historic of interporre

Anagrams

• esportine, inesperto, peroniste, riponeste