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Here is Your Word for Today.
May 20, 2008
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Tuesday, 20th May 2008 : Today's Word is ...


Intermittent



( Adjective )




Pronunciation : �nter-m�tt-nt


Definition:



1. occurring at irregular intervals

2. alternately containing and empty of water

3. stopping and starting at intervals


Etymology:


Origin : 1535�45 - Latin intermittere to leave a space between, drop (for a while), leave off, equiv. to inter- inter- + mittere to send, let go


Synonyms:


fitful, occasional, periodic, periodical, sporadic


Antonyms:


constant, continual, continuing, continuous, perpetual, regular, steady


Contextual Examples:


� The quiet was only disturbed by the intermittent bark of a far-off dog.

� If one laid a finger on the string, the sound answered to the flapping of the runner in a sort of hollow intermittent murmur.

� At any rate, as the dusk came on a slow, intermittent movement upon the sand pits began, a move- ment that seemed to gather force as the stillness of the eve- ning about the cylinder remained unbroken.

� Now, unless the sandbank had been submitted to the intermittent eruption of a geyser, the Governor Higginson had to do neither more nor less than with an aquatic mammal, unknown till then, which threw up from its blow-holes columns of water mixed with air and vapour.


Related Words:



intermittently : Adverb

intermit : Verb

intermittence : Noun

intermittingly : Adverb

intermittor : Noun

intermitter : Noun


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