intermission definition | Dictionary.com

in⋅ter⋅mis⋅sion

[in-ter-mish-uh

–noun

1.	a short interval between the acts of a play or parts of a public performance, usually a period of approximately 10 or 15 minutes, allowing the performers and audience a rest.

2.	a period during which action temporarily ceases; an interval between periods of action or activity: They studied for hours without an intermission.

3.	the act or fact of intermitting; state of being intermitted: to work without intermission.

Origin:
1400–50; late ME < L intermissiōn- (s. of intermissiō) interruption, equiv. to intermiss(us) (ptp. of intermittere to intermit ) + -iōn- -ion

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
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Language Translation for : intermission

Spanish:

descanso, intermedio,

German:

die Unterbrechung,

Japanese:

休憩時間

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in·ter·mis·sion (ĭn'tər-mĭsh'ən) Pronunciation Key
n.

The act of intermitting or the state of being intermitted.
A respite or recess.
The period between the acts of a theatrical or musical performance. See Synonyms at pause.

[Middle English intermissioun, from Old French intermission, from Latin intermissiō, intermissiōn-, from intermissus, past participle of intermittere, to interrupt; see intermit.]

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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intermission

1426, from L. intermissionem (nom. intermissio) "interruption," from intermissus, pp. of intermittere "to leave off," from inter- "between" + mittere "let go, send."

"Intermission is used in U.S. for what we call an interval (in a musical or dramatic performance). Under the influence of LOVE OF THE LONG WORD, it is beginning to infiltrate here and should be repelled; our own word does very well." [H.W. Fowler, "Modern English Usage," 1926]

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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intermission
noun
1.	the act of suspending activity temporarily
2.	a time interval during which there is a temporary cessation of something [syn: pause]

WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University.
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Intermission

In"ter*mise\, n. [Cf. F. entremise. See Intermission.] Interference; interposition. [Obs.] --Bacon.