interpenetrate

English

Etymology

Etymology tree

Proto-Indo-European *h₁én

Proto-Indo-European *-tér

Proto-Indo-European *h₁n̥tér

Proto-Italic *n̥ter

Latin inter

Latin inter-bor.

English inter-

English penetrate

English interpenetrate

From inter- + penetrate.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ɪntəˈpɛnɪtɹeɪt/
• (US) IPA^(key): /ɪntɚˈpɛnətɹeɪt/

Verb

interpenetrate (third-person singular simple present interpenetrates, present participle interpenetrating, simple past and past participle interpenetrated)

1. To penetrate mutually or reciprocally.
2. To permeate or pervade.
   • 1818–1819 (date written), Percy Bysshe Shelley, “Prometheus Unbound”, in Prometheus Unbound […], London: C[harles] and J[ames] Ollier […], published 1820, →OCLC, Act IV, scene i, page 141:

     It interpenetrates my granite mass, / Through tangled roots and trodden clay doth pass, / Into the utmost leaves and delicatest flowers; [...]

   • 1843 April, Thomas Carlyle, “Monk Samson”, in Past and Present, American edition, Boston, Mass.: Charles C[offin] Little and James Brown, published 1843, →OCLC, book II (The Ancient Monk), page 46:

     [O]ur Religion is not yet a horrible restless Doubt, still less a far horribler composed Cant; but a great heaven-high Unquestionability, encompassing, interpenetrating the whole of Life.

Italian

Etymology 1

Verb

interpenetrate

1. inflection of interpenetrare:
   1. second-person plural present indicative
   2. second-person plural imperative

Etymology 2

Participle

interpenetrate f pl

1. feminine plural of interpenetrato