intermittent
UK: ˌɪntəˈmɪtənt | US: ˌɪntərˈmɪtənt
adj. occurring at irregular intervals; not continuous or steady
adj. alternately ceasing and beginning again
The word "intermittent" originates from Latin intermittent-, the present participle of intermittere, meaning "to interrupt" or "to leave off." It combines inter- (between) and mittere (to send), suggesting a literal sense of "sending between" or "pausing in between." Over time, it evolved to describe actions or phenomena that stop and start at irregular intervals, retaining its core idea of discontinuity.
The intermittent rain made it difficult to plan outdoor activities.
She experienced intermittent pain in her knee after the injury.
The old radio produced only intermittent sound due to poor reception.
Intermittent fasting has become a popular health trend in recent years.
The machine operates with intermittent bursts of energy to conserve power.