become involved in a situation that is already happening
example
A fight broke out in the schoolyard and teachers had to intervene to prevent the kids from getting hurt.
synonyms
interferestep in
word origin — late 16th century (in the sense ‘come in as an extraneous factor or thing’): from Latin intervenire, from inter- ‘between’ + venire ‘come’
Advanced — Set 74
Set 74 of Advanced covers 5 words: intervene, diminish, speculate, precede, prohibit. Each entry below includes its definition, an example sentence, and synonyms — practice them with the interactive cards above.
intervene · verb/ˌɪn(t)ərˈvin/
become involved in a situation that is already happening
A fight broke out in the schoolyard and teachers had to intervene to prevent the kids from getting hurt.
Synonyms: interfere, step in
Origin: late 16th century (in the sense ‘come in as an extraneous factor or thing’): from Latin intervenire, from inter- ‘between’ + venire ‘come’
diminish · verb/dəˈmɪnɪʃ/
decrease or become less
As he got older, Richard's memory started to diminish, and he became more absent-minded in general.
Synonyms: reduce, dwindle, lessen
Origin: late Middle English: blend of archaic minish ‘diminish’ (based on Latin minutia ‘smallness’) and obsolete diminue ‘speak disparagingly’ (based on Latin deminuere ‘lessen’ (in late Latin diminuere), from minuere ‘make small’)
speculate · verb/ˈspɛk(j)əˌleɪt/
form an idea or opinion that is not based on sufficient evidence
The tennis champion resigned suddenly without giving an explanation, leaving the public to speculate about his possible motives.
Synonyms: guess, hypothesize
Origin: late 16th century: from Latin speculat- ‘observed from a vantage point’, from the verb speculari, from specula ‘watchtower’, from specere ‘to look’
precede · verb/priˈsid/
exist before someone or something else
There is lovely, golden light that precedes the appearance of the sun on the horizon in the early morning.
Synonyms: lead, come first
Origin: late Middle English: from Old French preceder, from Latin praecedere, from prae ‘before’ + cedere ‘go’
prohibit · verb/prəˈhɪbət/
not permit a behavior or action
The sign read that smoking was prohibited in the entire building.
Synonyms: disallow, ban, forbid
Origin: late Middle English: from Latin prohibit- ‘kept in check’, from the verb prohibere, from pro- ‘in front’ + habere ‘to hold’