Hai!
Tuesday, 20th May 2008 : Today's Word is ...
Intermittent
( Adjective )
Pronunciation : �nter-m�tt-nt
Definition:
1. occurring at irregular intervals
2. alternately containing and empty of water
3. stopping and starting at intervals
Etymology:
Origin : 1535�45 - Latin intermittere to leave a space between, drop (for a while), leave off, equiv. to inter- inter- + mittere to send, let go
Synonyms:
fitful, occasional, periodic, periodical, sporadic
Antonyms:
constant, continual, continuing, continuous, perpetual, regular, steady
Contextual Examples:
� The quiet was only disturbed by the intermittent bark of a far-off dog.
� If one laid a finger on the string, the sound answered to the flapping of the runner in a sort of hollow intermittent murmur.
� At any rate, as the dusk came on a slow, intermittent movement upon the sand pits began, a move- ment that seemed to gather force as the stillness of the eve- ning about the cylinder remained unbroken.
� Now, unless the sandbank had been submitted to the intermittent eruption of a geyser, the Governor Higginson had to do neither more nor less than with an aquatic mammal, unknown till then, which threw up from its blow-holes columns of water mixed with air and vapour.
Related Words:
� intermittently : Adverb
� intermit : Verb
� intermittence : Noun
� intermittingly : Adverb
� intermittor : Noun
� intermitter : Noun
A Word A Day Index
|