intermittent

intermittent: intermittent, recurrent, periodic, alternate mean recurring or reappearing more or less regularly but in interrupted sequence.

Something is intermittent which from time to time is omitted or disappears but always returns

{
an intermittent fever
}

{
an intermittent correspondence
}

{
in most poets there is an intermittent conflict between the poetic self and the rest of the man— Day Lewis
}

Something is recurrent which returns or has the habit of returning after omission or disappearance. In contrast, intermittent stresses breaks in continuity and recurrent stresses repetition

{
intermittent attacks of appendicitis
}

{
recurrent shortages
}

{
an intermittent buzzing
}

{
a recurrent knocking
}

{
an endlessly recurrent set of problems— Richards
}

Something is periodic which is known to be recurrent at more or less fixed intervals over a long period of time and which, therefore, can be fairly accurately forecast

{
periodic epidemics
}

{
periodic appearances of a comet
}

{
brought about periodic inspection of the markets, hotels, and restaurants—G. M. Lewis
}

Something is alternate which is both intermittent and recurrent, each in turn with something else. When applied to two contrasted or different things, alternate implies a succession of one after the other

{
alternate smiles and tears
}

{
alternate work and play
}

{
alternate stripes of orange and green
}

{
a dismal day of alternate calms and black squalls— Nordhoff & Hall
}

When applied to things of the same kind or description that follow each other in serial order, alternate means every other one

{
the class meets on alternate days of the week, beginning Tuesday
}

{
the alternate stripes are narrow and white
}

{
each of the others are active on alternate weeks, leaving half their time available for their customary private work— Wagley
}

Analogous words: interrupted, checked, arrested (see ARREST vb): *fitful, spasmodic: sporadic, occasional, infrequent: dis-continuing or discontinuous, stopping, quitting (see corresponding verbs at STOP)

Antonyms: incessant, continual

Contrasted words: continuous, constant, perpetual (see CONTINUAL): *everlasting, unceasing, interminable

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Synonyms:

Intermitting, remittent, Intermittent fever, remittent fever, fever and ague

Look at other dictionaries:

intermittent — intermittent, ente [ ɛ̃tɛrmitɑ̃, ɑ̃t ] adj. • 1559; lat. intermittens, de intermittere « discontinuer » ♦ Qui s arrête et reprend par intervalles. ⇒ discontinu, irrégulier . Fièvre intermittente. ⇒ erratique, rémittent. Pouls intermittent. Les… … Encyclopédie Universelle
Intermittent — du spectacle Équipe de tournage cinéma Un intermittent du spectacle est une personne qui travaille par intermittence (alternance de périodes d emploi et de chômage) pour des entreprises du spectacle (cinéma, télévision, théâtre ou autre spectacle … Wikipédia en Français
Intermittent — In ter*mit tent, a. [L. intermittens, entis, p. pr. of intermittere: cf. F. intermittent.] Coming and going at intervals; alternating; recurrent; periodic; as, an intermittent fever. Boyle. [1913 Webster] {Intermittent fever} (Med.), a disease… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
intermittent — intermittent, ente (in tèr mi ttan, ttan t ) adj. 1° Qui discontinue et reprend par intervalle. • Elle [la cascade] n a qu une plainte intermittente et douce, Selon qu elle rencontre ou la pierre ou la mousse, LAMART. Jocel. VI, 224.… … Dictionnaire de la Langue Française d'Émile Littré
intermittent — [in΄tər mit′ nt] adj. [L intermittens, prp. of intermittere: see INTERMIT] stopping and starting at intervals; pausing from time to time; periodic intermittence n. intermittently adv. SYN. INTERMITTENT and RECURRENT both apply to something that… … English World dictionary
Intermittent — In ter*mit tent, n. (Med.) An intermittent fever or disease. Dunglison. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
intermittent — Intermittent, [intermitt]ente. adj. Qui discontinuë. Il n a guere d usage que dans ces phrases. Poulx intermittent. fievre intermittente, qui se disent d un poulx dont les battemens cessent par intervalle, & d une fievre qui n est pas reglée,… … Dictionnaire de l'Académie française
intermittent — I adjective alternate, broken, cyclic, cyclical, desultory, discontinuous, fitful, flickering, fluctuating, infrequent, intermitting, interrupted, irregular, nonuniform, occasional, periodic, recurrent, recurring, remittent, rhythmic, seasonal,… … Law dictionary
intermittent — (adj.) c.1600, from L. intermittentem (nom. intermittens), prp. of intermittere (see INTERMISSION (Cf. intermission)). Related: Intermittently … Etymology dictionary
intermittent — meaning ‘occurring at intervals’, is spelt ent … Modern English usage

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