A pause or break between parts of a performance, meeting, or activity.
From Latin 'intermissio' meaning 'a breaking off' or 'interruption,' built from 'inter' (between) and 'mittere' (to send or let go). The Romans used this word for any kind of interruption or pause, whether in speech, fever, or military campaigns. It entered English through French in the 15th century, initially used for pauses in medical symptoms before becoming associated with theatrical breaks.
The Romans gave us 'intermission' as a medical term for when your fever temporarily broke - they had no idea it would become the most anticipated 15 minutes of every Broadway show! The word literally means 'sending between,' as if the pause is something actively inserted between the main events.
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