/ ˌɪntəˈmɪtənt; NAmE -tərˈm-/ adjective
stopping and starting often over a period of time, but not regularly
SYN sporadic :
intermittent bursts of applause
intermittent showers
► inter·mit·tent·ly adverb :
Protests continued intermittently throughout November.
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WORD ORIGIN
mid 16th cent.: from Latin intermittent- ceasing, from the verb intermittere , from inter- between + mittere let go.