interstice
UK: ɪnˈtɜː.stɪs | US: ɪnˈtɜːr.stɪs
n. a small or narrow space or interval between things; a gap or crevice
interstice = inter<between> + stice<stand>
- inter (from Latin inter, meaning "between")
- stice (from Latin stare, meaning "to stand," via stitium, implying a fixed or intervening space)
Etymology Origin:
Derived from Latin interstitium ("interval"), the word combines inter- (between) and -stitium (related to standing or positioning). It originally described physical gaps (e.g., between threads in fabric) and later expanded to abstract intervals (e.g., time). The morphemes reflect the idea of something "standing between" other elements.
Sunlight filtered through the interstices of the dense foliage.
The artist carefully painted the interstices of the mosaic tiles.
Bacteria thrive in the interstices of porous rocks.
He found coins lodged in the interstices of the old couch.
Legal loopholes exist in the interstices of the contract.