interposition
UK[ˌɪn.tə.pəˈzɪʃ.ən]US[ˌɪn.t̬ɚ.pəˈzɪʃ.ən]
n
The action of placing something between other things or people.
n
The action of intervening or interfering between parties.
Morpheme Breakdown
inter
position
inter
between
position
place
Etymology
The word 'interposition' is a direct borrowing from Latin 'interpositionem', the noun of action from 'interponere', meaning "to place between, insert, intervene." This Latin verb is a compound of 'inter-' ("between") and 'ponere' ("to put, place"). The core concept of placing something physically between objects evolved naturally into the abstract sense of intervention or mediation between people or parties. The word entered English in the late 14th century, retaining the dual meanings of physical insertion and the act of interceding or interfering.
Analysis
Structure: inter (between) + position (place)
'inter' is a Latin preposition and prefix meaning "between, among." 'position' is derived from Latin 'positus', the past participle of 'ponere', meaning "to place."
Examples
The interposition of a screen provided some privacy in the open-plan office.
The diplomat sought the interposition of a neutral country to facilitate talks.
The sudden interposition of his authority ended the argument.