— intermittence, intermittency , n. — intermittently , adv.
/in'teuhr mit"nt/ , adj.
1. stopping or ceasing for a time; alternately ceasing and beginning again: an intermittent pain.
2. alternately functioning and not functioning or alternately functioning properly and improperly.
3. (of streams, lakes, or springs) recurrent; showing water only part of the time.
[ 1595-1605; intermittent- (s. of intermittens ) prp. of intermittere to INTERMIT; see -ENT ]
Syn. 1. interrupted, sporadic.