intermingle
Meaning
(of two or more things) to mix together or be mixed together
(of people or groups) to become involved with each other socially or professionally
Structure
Usage
The flavors of the herbs and spices intermingle to create a complex sauce.
At the international conference, delegates from various cultures had ample opportunity to intermingle.
In the early morning light, the sounds of birdsong and distant traffic intermingled.
Etymology
The word 'intermingle' is a compound verb formed within English by combining the Latin-derived prefix 'inter-' with the native Germanic verb 'mingle'. The prefix 'inter-', from Latin inter meaning "between, among," intensifies and specifies the nature of the mixing as being mutual or reciprocal between distinct elements. 'Mingle' itself descends from Old English mengan (to mix, combine), a common Germanic word. Thus, 'intermingle' literally means "to mix among or between," a meaning that has remained transparent from its 15th-century origins to its modern abstract sense describing the blending of ideas, populations, or substances.
Analysis
- inter: A prefix of Latin origin, meaning "between, among, mutually, reciprocally." It functions as a locative and relational modifier. - mingle: A verb of Middle English origin, from mengen, meaning "to mix, combine, bring together." It functions as the core lexical root.