Meanings
present singular third person interposes · participle present interposing · participle past interposed · past interposed
- transitiveTo insert something (or oneself) between other things.
to interpose a screen between the eye and the light
2 more examples
What watchful cares do interpose themselves Betwixt your eyes and night?
1599 (first performance), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Iulius Cæsar”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene i]Lands intersected by a narrow frith Abhor each other. Mountains interposed Make enemies of nations who had else Like kindred drops been mingled into one.
1785, William Cowper, “Book I. The Sofa.”, in The Task, a Poem, […], London: […] J[oseph] Johnson; […], →OCLC, page 30Synonyms: insert
- transitiveTo interrupt a conversation by introducing a different subject or making a comment.
“A beautiful country!” “I suppose it is. Everybody says so.” “Your cousin Feenix raves about it, Edith,” interposed her mother from her couch.
1846 October 1 – 1848 April 1, Charles Dickens, Dombey and Son, London: Bradbury and Evans, […], published 1848, →OCLC1 more example
As one who in his journey bates at Noone, Though bent on speed, so her the Archangel paused Betwixt the world destroyed and world restored, If Adam aught perhaps might interpose; Then with transition sweet new Speech resumes.
1667, John Milton, “Book XII”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC, lines 1-5Synonyms: interrupt
- transitiveTo offer (one's help or services).
- intransitiveTo be inserted between parts or things; to come between.
Suppose, unlook’d for in a scene so rude, Long hid by interposing hill or wood, Some mansion neat and elegantly dress’d, By some kind hospitable heart possess’d Offer him warmth, security and rest;
1781 (date written), William Cowper, “Truth”, in Poems, London: […] J[oseph] Johnson, […], published 1782, →OCLC - intransitiveTo intervene in a dispute, or in a conversation.
Matilda and Sophy were quite in a flutter of pleasure
1858, Margaret Oliphant Oliphant, Orphans: a chapter in a life, by the author of 'Margaret Maitland', page 1412 more examples
The doctor now interposed, and prevented the effects of a wrath which was kindling between Jones and Thwackum […]
1749, Henry Fielding, chapter IX, in The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling, volume (please specify |volume=I to VI), London: A[ndrew] Millar, […], →OCLC, book V"My daughters," replied Sir Thomas, gravely interposing, "have their pleasures at Brighton, and I hope are very happy; […]"
1814 May 9, [Jane Austen], chapter VIII, in Mansfield Park: […], volume II, London: […] [George Sidney] for T[homas] Egerton, […], →OCLC, page 170
Synonyms & antonyms
verbTo insert something (or oneself) between other things.
verbTo interrupt a conversation by introducing a different subject or making a comment.
More synonyms by meaning
verbto insert between other elements
verbget involved, so as to alter or hinder an action, or through force or threat of force
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
- Latininterpōnō
- Middle Frenchinterposer
- Englishinterpose
From Middle French interposer, influenced by poser (“to place, put”), from Latin interpōnō, from inter (“between”) + pōnō (“to place, put”).
More words from Middle French, Latin
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Bulgarian вмъквам, вклинявам
- вмъквам (vmăkvam)to insert something (or oneself) between other things
- вклинявам (vklinjavam)to insert something (or oneself) between other things
- прекъсвам (prekăsvam)to interrupt a conversation by introducing a different subject or making a comment
- намесвам се (namesvam se)to intervene in a dispute, or in a conversation
Dutch tussenzetten, tussenkomen
- tussenzettento insert something (or oneself) between other things
- tussenkomento interrupt a conversation by introducing a different subject or making a comment
- in de rede vallento interrupt a conversation by introducing a different subject or making a comment
- tussenbeide komento intervene in a dispute, or in a conversation
Finnish laittaa väliin, keskeyttää
- laittaa väliinto insert something (or oneself) between other things
- keskeyttääto interrupt a conversation by introducing a different subject or making a comment
- tulla väliinto be inserted between parts or things
- keskeyttääto intervene in a dispute, or in a conversation
French interposer, intercaler
- interposerto insert something (or oneself) between other things
- intercalerto insert something (or oneself) between other things
- interrompreto interrupt a conversation by introducing a different subject or making a comment
- couperto interrupt a conversation by introducing a different subject or making a comment
- casser le filto interrupt a conversation by introducing a different subject or making a comment
- s'interposerto intervene in a dispute, or in a conversation
- se mêler àto intervene in a dispute, or in a conversation
- se jeter dans la mêléeto intervene in a dispute, or in a conversation
- semer la merdeto intervene in a dispute, or in a conversation
Greek παρεμβάλλω, παρεμβαίνω
- παρεμβάλλω (paremvállo)to insert something (or oneself) between other things
- παρεμβαίνω (paremvaíno)to interrupt a conversation by introducing a different subject or making a comment
Māori kōkuhu, kohiko
- kōkuhuto insert something (or oneself) between other things
- kohikoto interrupt a conversation by introducing a different subject or making a comment
- aruaruto interrupt a conversation by introducing a different subject or making a comment
- kuhito be inserted between parts or things
Polish wstawiać, wstawić
- wstawiaćto insert something (or oneself) between other things
- wstawićto insert something (or oneself) between other things
- wtrącaćto interrupt a conversation by introducing a different subject or making a comment
- wtrącićto interrupt a conversation by introducing a different subject or making a comment
- być wstawionymto be inserted between parts or things
- przerywaćto intervene in a dispute, or in a conversation
- przerwaćto intervene in a dispute, or in a conversation
Portuguese interpor
- interporto insert something (or oneself) between other things
Russian вставля́ть, помеща́ть
- вставля́ть (vstavljátʹ)to insert something (or oneself) between other things
- помеща́ть (pomeščátʹ)to insert something (or oneself) between other things
- прерыва́ть (preryvátʹ)to interrupt a conversation by introducing a different subject or making a comment
- перебива́ть (perebivátʹ)to interrupt a conversation by introducing a different subject or making a comment
- вме́шиваться (vméšivatʹsja)to interrupt a conversation by introducing a different subject or making a comment
- вклиниваться (vklinivatʹsja)to be inserted between parts or things
Spanish interponer, interponerse
- interponerto insert something (or oneself) between other things
- interponerseto intervene in a dispute, or in a conversation
- meterse ento intervene in a dispute, or in a conversation
- lanzarse a la peleato intervene in a dispute, or in a conversation
Swedish inskjuta
- inskjutato interrupt a conversation by introducing a different subject or making a comment
Rhymes & wordplay
Rhymes with interpose
Anagrams
Cite this entry
interpose. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/interpose
“interpose.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/interpose. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “interpose,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/interpose.
Source: interpose on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.