LATIN DICTIONARYLexicon Latīnum
verbthird conjugation

interpōnō

interpōnō (present infinitive interpōnere, perfect active interposuī or interposīvī, supine interpositum or interpostum)
Classical[ɪn.tɛrˈpoː.noː]Ecclesiastical[in.terˈpɔː.no]

Meaning

  1. to put, place or lay between or among
  2. to insert, interpose or introduce (often in a bad way)
    Caesar, quod neque conloquium interposita causa tolli volebat neque salutem suam Gallorum equitatui committere audebat, commodissimum esse statuit omnibus equis Gallis equitibus detractis eo legionarios milites legionis X., cui quam maxime confidebat, imponere, ut praesidium quam amicissimum, si quid opus facto esset, haberet.Caesar, as he didn't want either the interview to be for any reason set aside or confide his wellbeing in the hands of the Gallic cavalry, said he saw as most fit the Gallic horsemen be stripped off their steeds and in their place mount legionaries of the 10th legion, in which he had the utmost faith, that he might have as trusted a body-guard as one could have if the occasion ever urged its use.c. 52 BCE, Julius Caesar, Commentarii de bello Gallico 1.42
  3. to pledge

Latīnē defined in Latin in our graded readers

inserts
interpōnit — in Seneca, ch. XVII

Conjugation conjugation 3

active indicative
formpresentimperfectfutureperfectpluperfectfut. perfect
1st sg.interpōnōinterpōnēbaminterpōnaminterposuī
interposīvī		interposueram
interposīveram, interposīram		interposuerō
interposīverō, interposīrō
2nd sg.interpōnisinterpōnēbāsinterpōnēsinterposuistī
interposīvistī, interposīstī		interposuerās
interposīverās, interposīrās		interposueris
interposīveris, interposīris
3rd sg.interpōnitinterpōnēbatinterpōnetinterposuit
interposīvit, interposīt		interposuerat
interposīverat, interposīrat		interposuerit
interposīverit, interposīrit
1st pl.interpōnimusinterpōnēbāmusinterpōnēmusinterposuimus
interposīvimus, interposīmus		interposuerāmus
interposīverāmus, interposīrāmus		interposuerimus
interposīverimus, interposīrimus
2nd pl.interpōnitisinterpōnēbātisinterpōnētisinterposuistis
interposīvistis, interposīstis		interposuerātis
interposīverātis, interposīrātis, interposurātis		interposueritis
interposīveritis, interposīritis
3rd pl.interpōnuntinterpōnēbantinterpōnentinterposuērunt
interposuēre, interposīvērunt, interposīrunt, interposīvēre		interposuerant
interposīverant, interposīrant		interposuerint
interposīverint, interposīrint
active subjunctive
active subjunctive
formpresentimperfectperfectpluperfect
1st sg.interpōnaminterpōnereminterposuerim
interposīverim, interposīrim		interposuissem
interposīvissem, interposīssem
2nd sg.interpōnāsinterpōnerēsinterposuerīs
interposīverīs, interposīrīs		interposuissēs
interposīvissēs, interposīssēs
3rd sg.interpōnatinterpōneretinterposuerit
interposīverit, interposīrit		interposuisset
interposīvisset, interposīsset
1st pl.interpōnāmusinterpōnerēmusinterposuerīmus
interposīverīmus, interposīrīmus		interposuissēmus
interposīvissēmus, interposīssēmus
2nd pl.interpōnātisinterpōnerētisinterposuerītis
interposīverītis, interposīrītis		interposuissētis
interposīvissētis, interposīssētis
3rd pl.interpōnantinterpōnerentinterposuerint
interposīverint, interposīrint		interposuissent
interposīvissent, interposīssent
passive indicative
passive indicative
formpresentimperfectfuture
1st sg.interpōnorinterpōnēbarinterpōnar
2nd sg.interpōneris
interpōnere		interpōnēbāris
interpōnēbāre		interpōnēris
interpōnēre
3rd sg.interpōniturinterpōnēbāturinterpōnētur
1st pl.interpōnimurinterpōnēbāmurinterpōnēmur
2nd pl.interpōniminīinterpōnēbāminīinterpōnēminī
3rd pl.interpōnunturinterpōnēbanturinterpōnentur
passive subjunctive
passive subjunctive
formpresentimperfect
1st sg.interpōnarinterpōnerer
2nd sg.interpōnāris
interpōnāre		interpōnerēris
interpōnerēre
3rd sg.interpōnāturinterpōnerētur
1st pl.interpōnāmurinterpōnerēmur
2nd pl.interpōnāminīinterpōnerēminī
3rd pl.interpōnanturinterpōnerentur
imperative
imperative
formactivepassive
pres. 2nd sg.interpōneinterpōnere
pres. 2nd pl.interpōniteinterpōniminī
fut. 2nd sg.interpōnitōinterpōnitor
fut. 3rd sg.interpōnitōinterpōnitor
fut. 2nd pl.interpōnitōte—
fut. 3rd pl.interpōnuntōinterpōnuntor
infinitives & participles
infinitives & participles
formactivepassive
present infinitiveinterpōnereinterpōnī
perfect infinitiveinterposuisse
interposīvisse, interposīsse		interpositum esse
interpostum esse
future infinitiveinterpositūrum esse
interpostūrum esse		interpositum īrī
interpostum īrī
present participleinterpōnēns—
perfect participle—interpositus
interpostus, interposita, interpositā, interpositae, interpositam, interpositārum, interpositās, interposite, interpositī, interpositīs, interpositō, interpositōrum, interpositōs
future participleinterpositūrus
interpostūrus, interpositūra, interpositūrā, interpositūrae, interpositūram, interpositūrārum, interpositūrās, interpositūre, interpositūrī, interpositūrīs, interpositūrō, interpositūrōrum, interpositūrōs, interpositūrum		interpōnendus
interpōnundus, interpōnenda, interpōnendā, interpōnendae, interpōnendam, interpōnendārum, interpōnendās, interpōnende, interpōnendīs, interpōnendōrum, interpōnendōs
gerundinterpōnendī, interpōnendō, interpōnendumsupineinterpositum, interpositū

Phrases from Meissner's Latin Phrase-Book

interponere aliquid (De Am. 1. 3)
to interpolate, insert something.
causam interponere or interserere
to interpose, put forward an argument, a reason.
bello se interponere (Liv. 35. 48)
to interfere in a war.
sine mora or nulla mora interposita
without delay.
fidem interponere (Sall. Iug. 32. 5)
to pledge one's word to...
nullam moram interponere, quin (Phil. 10. 1. 1)
to make all possible haste to...
fidem publicam dare, interponere (Sall. Iug. 32. 1)
to guarantee the protection of the state; to promise a safe-conduct.

inter-pōno, pŏsŭi, pŏsĭtum, 3, v. a.,
I. to put, place, lay, or set between or among, to interpose, insert between.
I. Lit.
A. Of place, constr. with acc. and dat., or inter with acc.: equitatus praesidia levis armaturae, Hirt. B. G. 8, 17; 13; 19: vestibus interponi eam (herbam) gratissimum, Plin. 21, 6, 20, § 43: ubi spatium inter muros ... pilae interponuntur, Caes. B. C. 2, 15: inter eos levis armaturae Numidas, Hirt. B. Afr. 13: uti levis armatura interjecta inter equites suos interponeretur, id. ib. 20: sulcos, Cato, R. R. 33, 3: ne interpositi quidem elephanti militem deterrebant, Liv. 37, 42: lateri vinculum lapides sunt, quos interposuere, ut, etc., Curt. 8, 10, 25.—
B. Esp.
1. To insert, interpose, introduce.—Of time: intercalariis mensibus interpositis, Liv. 1, 19, 6; cf.: inediam unius diei per singulos menses, Suet. Vesp. 20.—Of musical notes: iis sonis quos interposuerant, inserunt alios, Quint. 12, 10, 68.—Of words or language: ne inquam et inquit saepius interponeretur, Cic. Lael. 1: hoc loco libet interponere ... quantae, etc., Nep. Pelop. 3, 1: subinde interponenti precibus, quid respondebo, etc., Quint. 6, 3, 64: paucis interpositis versibus, Cic. Div. 1, 57, 131: aliquid, Quint. 2, 4, 12: verbum ullum, Cic. Quint. 4, 15; so, querelas, id. Q. Fr. 2, 3, 1: meam sententiam, Quint. 5 prooem. 3. — Of a letter in a word: quibusdam (verbis litteram), Quint. 1, 5, 17.—Of a foot in verse: quibusdam (iambus) interpositus, id. 10, 1, 96.—
2. Of time, to let pass, permit to elapse, leave an interval: spatium ad recreandos animos, Caes. B. C. 3, 74: ejus rei causa moram interponi arbitrabatur, id. B. G. 4, 9, fin.: tridui mora interposita, after a delay of, id. ib. 4, 11; id. B. C. 1, 64; 3, 12; 75: nullam moram, Cic. Phil. 6, 1, 2: nullam moram, quin, etc., id. Ac. 1, 1: spatio interposito, some time after, id. Clu. 2, 5; Liv. 5, 5, 10: diebus aliquot interpositis, Varr. R. R. 3, 9: tempore interposito, Suet. Tib. 9; cf. id. Claud. 26; Plin. 25, 8, 49, § 88: hac interposita nocte, Liv. 44, 39.—
3. To mingle: frigidam (cibis), to drink cold water while eating, Plin. 28, 4, 14, § 55; cf.: condimentis cuminum, to mix with, id. 20, 15, 58, § 153.—
C. With personal objects, to introduce among, admit among, bring into, to bring into a feast, a society, among associates, etc.: quam sancta sit societas civium, dis immortalibus interpositis, etc., Cic. Leg. 2, 7, 16: aliquem convivio, Suet. Claud. 39: legatos familiaribus, id. Ner. 22. —
II. Trop., to interpose, introduce, put in the way, put forward.
A. In gen., as a hinderance, interference, reason, or pretext: Lentulus provinciam, quam sorte habebat, interposita religione, deposuit, Cic. Pis. 21, 50: neque ulla belli suspicione interposita, Caes. B. G. 4, 32: nulla interposita dubitatione, id. ib. 7, 40; Hirt. B. G. 8, 48; 52: interposita pactione, Just. 7, 6, 5: offensione aliqua interposita, Cic. Phil. 2, 4: nec colloquium interposita causa tolli volebat, Caes. B. G. 1, 42; Hirt. B. Alex. 70: causam interponens collegas exspectare, Nep. Them. 7, 2: postulata haec ab eo interposita esse, quominus, etc., Cic. Att. 7, 15, 3: operam, studium, laborem pro sociis, id. Div. in Caecin. 19.—
B. Esp.
1. Of a judgment, decree, edict, oath, etc.: jurejurando interposito, Liv. 34, 25, 7; Suet. Caes. 85: jus eo die se non dicturum, neque decretum interpositurum, Liv. 3, 46, 3: ad decreta interponenda pecuniam occipere, Cic. Verr. 2, 2, 48, § 119; Suet. Tib. 33: judicium suum, Cic. Div. 2, 72, 150: poenas compromissaque, Cic. Verr. 2, 2, 27, § 66: exceptionem actioni, Dig. 44, 1, 2: intercessionem suam (of a tribune of the people), Val. Max. 6, 1, 10: tutor interponit auctoritatem suam, gives his authorization, Gai. Inst. 1, 190. —
2. Fidem interponere, to pledge one's word or credit: fidem suam in eam rem, Caes. B. G. 5, 36, 2: fidem reliquis interponere, jusjurandum poscere, ut, etc., id. ib. 5, 6, 6: fidem suam in re omni, Hirt. B. Alex. 63: omni interposita fide, Caes. B. C. 3, 86: ut in eam rem fidem suam, si quid opus esse putaret, interponeret, Cic. Rosc. Am. 39, 114; cf.: sponsio interponeretur, Liv. 9, 9.—
3. Se interponere (in aliquid, or alicui rei; also with quominus or absol.), to interfere, intermeddle, engage in, set one's self in the way: si te in istam pacificationem non interponis, Cic. Fam. 10, 27, 2: bello se, Liv. 35, 48: num ego me non interpono Romanis, Just. 3, 10, 11: num quem putas posse reperiri, qui se interponat, quominus, etc.? Cic. Vatin. 15: quid enim me interponerem audaciae tuae? expose myself, id. Phil. 2, 4, 19: ni tribuni plebis interposuissent se, Liv. 27, 6: tu vero, quod voles, facies; me nihil interpono, Cic. Q. Fr. 3, 4, 5.— Rarely, to interfere, interpose in behalf of any one: semper se interposuit, Nep. Att. 2, 4; 9, 5: Qui me mediis interposuerim Caesaris scriptis, i.e. by writing a continuation, Hirt. B. G. 8 praef.

Origins

  1. Proto-Indo-European*h₁én
  2. Proto-Indo-European*h₁n̥tér
  3. Proto-Italic*n̥ter
  4. Latininterpōnō

Latin inter- Proto-Indo-European *h₂ep Proto-Indo-European *-o Proto-Indo-European *h₂epó Proto-Indo-European *h₂pó Proto-Italic *po Proto-Indo-European *teḱ- Proto-Indo-European *-éyti Proto-Indo-European *tḱéytibf. Proto-Indo-European *tḱey- Proto-Indo-European *-né- Proto-Indo-European *-ti Proto-Indo-European *tḱinéti Proto-Italic *sinō Proto-Italic *pozinō Latin pōnō Latin interpōnō From inter- (“between; among”) + pōnō (“to place; to put”).

Descendants
  • Englishinterpone
  • Englishinterpose
  • Frenchentreposer
  • Frenchinterposer
  • Italianinterporre
  • Portugueseentrepor
  • Portugueseinterpor
  • Romanianinterpune
  • Spanishentreponer
  • Spanishinterponer

Quick answers

What does interpōnō mean in Latin?
interpōnō, a verb, means “to put, place or lay between or among; to insert, interpose or introduce (often in a bad way); to pledge”.
What are the principal parts of interpōnō?
interpōnō, interpōnere, interposuī, interpositum (third conjugation).
How do you pronounce interpōnō?
In classical Latin, [ɪn.tɛrˈpoː.noː]; in ecclesiastical (church) Latin, [in.terˈpɔː.no].
Where does interpōnō come from?
Proto-Indo-European *h₁én → Proto-Indo-European *h₁n̥tér → Proto-Italic *n̥ter → Latin interpōnō.