intercede

Where does the word "intercede" come from? It comes from Latin intercedere, and was adopted directly into English (1560s).

Intercede’s story begins in Latin: intercedere meant “to go between.” To go between, from inter- (between) and cedere (to go). It reached English by 1560s as intercede. Settled as the English word for intervening on behalf of another. Today, intercede means to intervene on behalf of another, especially to settle a dispute.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient intercedere "to go between", to go between, from inter- (between) and cedere (to go).
2. Stage 2 · English · 1560s intercede "to intervene on behalf of another person", settled as the English word for intervening on behalf of another.