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intermission

 - 4 dictionary results

in⋅ter⋅mis⋅sion

  [in-ter-mish-uhn]
–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.
Use intermission in a Sentence
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
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2010.
Cite This Source Link To intermission
in·ter·mis·sion   (ĭn'tər-mĭsh'ən)   
n.  

  1. The act of intermitting or the state of being intermitted.

  2. A respite or recess.

  3. 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 © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

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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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: in·ter·mis·sion
Pronunciation: "int-&r-'mish-&n
Function: noun
: the space of time between two paroxysms of adisease —compare ARREST, CURE 1, REMISSION
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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