intermediate etymology

Etymology:

  • 1590s: From Latin intermedius "intermediate, middle," from inter "between" + medius "middle."

Meaning:

  • Located or existing between two things or extremes.
  • Of moderate or middling character or quality.
  • Serving as a connection or transition between two things.

Origin:

The word "intermediate" ultimately derives from the Proto-Indo-European root meǵʰyos, meaning "middle." This root also gave rise to the Greek words mesos, meaning "middle," and meta, meaning "between," as well as the Latin words medius and metus (meaning "fear," which originally referred to the fear of being in the middle of a conflict).

The Latin intermedius was first used in the 16th century to describe something that was located between two other things. It was later extended to mean something that was of moderate or middling character or quality. By the 19th century, "intermediate" had also come to be used to describe something that served as a connection or transition between two things.

Today, "intermediate" is a common word used in a variety of contexts. It can be used to describe the level of difficulty of a task, the quality of a product, or the position of something in a sequence.

intermediate relate terms

  • mediate

    Etymology The word mediate derives from the Latin verb mediare meaning to act as a

  • mediation

    Etymology The word mediation originates from the Latin word medius which means midd

  • mediator

    Etymology The word mediator comes from the Latin word mediare which means to go in

  • intermediacy

    Etymology The word intermediacy is derived from the Latin word intermedius meaning

  • intermediate

    Etymology 1590s From Latin intermedius intermediate middle from inter between

  • intermediary

    Etymology Old French entremeteur entermeteur entermetieur Latin inter among betwe

  • terminal

    Etymology The word terminal derives from the Latin term terminus which means bounda

  • intercede

    Etymology Latin intercedō meaning to go between intervene From inter between

  • mean

    Etymology Old English mǣne Proto Germanic mainiz Proto Indo European mei to think

  • mean

    Etymology Old English mǣne Proto Germanic mainiz Proto Indo European mei to think

  • jetsam

    Etymology Middle English jetteson gettisoun Old English ġiet meaning anything c

  • wire tapping

    Etymology of wiretapping The roots of the term wiretapping can be traced back to the la

  • negotiate

    Etymology Latin negotiari to trade do business Late Latin negotiatus business

  • medium

    Etymology The word medium originates from the Latin word medius which means middle

  • arbitrate

    Etymology The word arbitrate comes from the Latin verb arbitrari which means to jud