interglacial
UK[ˌɪntəˈɡleɪsɪəl]US[ˌɪntərˈɡleɪsɪəl]
adj
relating to or occurring in a period of milder climate between two glacial periods.
n
an interglacial period.
Morpheme Breakdown
inter
glacial
inter
between
glacial
of ice
Etymology
the word 'interglacial' is a modern scientific compound formed from established latin elements. the prefix 'inter-' directly conveys the sense of "between," while the root 'glacial' stems from the latin 'glacies' for ice, describing the icy epochs of a glacial period. the term was constructed in the 19th century to name the geological intervals of warmer climate that separate the cold phases of an ice age. thus, the word's literal meaning, "between ice ages," logically and precisely defines its modern geological application.
Analysis
Structure: inter (between) + glacial (of ice)
- inter: from latin 'inter', meaning "between, among". a prefix indicating location or relationship between things.
- glacial: from latin 'glacialis', meaning "icy, frozen", from 'glacies' (ice). an adjective-forming suffix indicating a relationship to ice or glaciers.
Examples
sedimentary layers from the last interglacial period provide clues about past sea levels.
researchers are studying fossil pollen to understand the vegetation during the interglacial.
the current holocene epoch is considered an interglacial within the ongoing quaternary ice age.