interrupt

Where does the word "interrupt" come from? It comes from Latin interrumpere, and was adopted directly into English (1400s).

Interrupt’s story begins in Latin: interrumpere meant “to break between.” To break between, from inter- (between) and rumpere (to break). It reached English by 1400s as interrupt. Settled as the English word for breaking the continuity of something. Today, interrupt means to stop the continuous progress of an activity or speech.

1. Stage 1 · Latin · ancient interrumpere "to break between", to break between, from inter- (between) and rumpere (to break).
2. Stage 2 · English · 1400s interrupt "to break the continuity of an action or speech", settled as the English word for breaking the continuity of something.