What does intermittence mean?
Intermittence refers to the quality or state of happening or being done at intervals, rather than continuously. This term is often used in technical or formal contexts to describe phenomena such as weather patterns, power supply issues, or medical symptoms that occur sporadically. Understanding intermittence is crucial in fields like engineering, medicine, and environmental science, where predicting and managing intermittent events can have significant consequences. The term is closely related to concepts like periodicity and variability, and is often used interchangeably with 'intermittency'.
nounThe quality or state of being intermittent; occurring or done at intervals.
- The quality of occurring at intervals.
- A characteristic of something that happens or is done intermittently.
"The intermittence of the power supply caused problems with the computer."
"The intermittence of the rain made it difficult to plan outdoor activities."
"The doctor studied the intermittence of the patient's symptoms to make a diagnosis."
The plural form is used when referring to multiple instances or types of intermittence.
"The study analyzed the intermittences of several weather patterns."
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of intermittence
The word 'intermittence' originated from the Latin 'intermittere', which means 'to let go between'. This Latin term is a combination of 'inter', meaning 'between', and 'mittere', meaning 'to send'. The word has evolved through Middle English and has been used in the English language since the 15th century to describe the quality of occurring at intervals.
How intermittence is actually used
Formal or technical contexts often use 'intermittence', while informal contexts might use 'intermittency'.