[in.ter.vene] vi -vened ; -ven.ing [L intervenire to come between, fr. inter- + venire to come--more at come] (1587) 1: to occur, fall, or come between points of time or events
2: to enter or appear as an irrelevant or extraneous feature or circumstance
3: to come in or between by way of hindrance or modification "~ to stop a fight"
4: to occur or lie between two things
5. a: to become a third party to a legal proceeding begun by others for the protection of an alleged interest b: to interfere usu. by force or threat of force in another nation's internal affairs esp. to compel or prevent an action or to maintain or alter a condition syn see interpose -- in.ter.ven.tion n