/in'teuhr veen"/ , v.i. , intervened, intervening .
1. to come between disputing people, groups, etc.; intercede; mediate.
2. to occur or be between two things.
3. to occur or happen between other events or periods: Nothing important intervened between the meetings.
4. (of things) to occur incidentally so as to modify or hinder: We enjoyed the picnic until a thunderstorm intervened.
5. to interfere with force or a threat of force: to intervene in the affairs of another country.
6. Law. to interpose and become a party to a suit pending between other parties.
[ 1580-90; intervenire to come between, equiv. to inter- INTER- + venire to COME; see CONVENE ]
Syn. 1. arbitrate, interpose.