Intervention
/ˌɪn.təˈven.ʃən/noun
The act of becoming involved in a situation in order to affect its outcome.
Did you know?In Latin, intervenire could mean to come between, interrupt, hinder, or interpose—showing that intervention has never implied purely benevolent involvement.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*gʷem-
“To go or come; a reconstructed root underlying later words for arrival and movement.”
Classical Latin
Latin
venīre
“To come.”
Classical Latin
Latin
intervenīre
“To come between, interpose, interrupt, or hinder; formed from inter-, “between,” and venīre, “to come.””
Late Latin
Latin
interventiō
“An interposing or intervening; the noun formed from intervenīre.”
14th Century
English
intervention
“The act of intervening or interposing in a matter.”
Modern English
English
intervention
“Involvement intended to alter a situation, commonly in medicine, diplomacy, education, or conflict.”