INTERVE'NE, verb intransitive [Latin intervenio; inter and venio, to come.]

1. To come or be between persons or things; to be situated between. Thus the Atlantic intervenes between Europe and America; the Mediterranean intervenes between Europe and Africa.

2. To come between points or time or events; as the period that intervened between the treaty of Ryswick and the treaty of Utrecht.

3. To happen in a way to disturb, cross or interrupt. Events may intervene to frustrate our purposes or wishes.

4. To interpose or undertake voluntarily for another. A third party may intervene and accept a bill of exchange for another.

INTERVE'NE, noun A coming between. [Not used.]