Definition of inter

The prefix "inter-" in English has its origins in the Latin word "inter," which means "between" or "among." In Latin, the word "inter" was commonly used to indicate the spatial relationship between two or more things, such as "inter amplum et parvum," which translates to "between the large and the small." The Latin prefix "inter-" was also used to indicate other relationships, such as intermediate or intervening, as in the Latin word "intermediius," which translates to "intervening" or "somewhere in the middle." This meaning of the prefix was adopted into English, where it is commonly used to indicate something situated between two or more things, such as "interstate" (between states), "intercontinental" (between continents), and "intervertebral" (between vertebrae). In addition, the prefix "inter-" is used to indicate interaction or communication between two or more things, such as in the words "intercommunication" and "interference." This use of the prefix reflects the Latin meaning "between" in the sense of contact or proximity. In summary, the prefix "inter-" in English originated from the Latin word "inter," which means "between" or "among." Its use in English has evolved to indicate spatial, experiential, and communicative relationships between two or more things.