intercipiebat

Intercipio is a Latin verb meaning to seize between or to intercept, to take in transit, or more broadly to interrupt or cut off. The form is formed from the prefix inter- meaning between and the verb capere “to take” (in the -io family). In English, the verb yields intercept or interception.

Principal parts and conjugation: intercipio, intercipere, intercepi, interceptum. It is a third-conjugation -io verb of the capio group. In the present active indicative, forms include intercipio, intercipis, intercipit, intercipimus, intercipitis, intercipiunt. The imperfect active indicative is intercipiebat, used for ongoing past action (e.g., he was intercepting). The perfect active is intercepi, with endings such as intercepis (you intercepted), intercepit (he intercepted), interceperunt (they intercepted). The passive forms exist as well (e.g., intercipior, intercipieris, intercepitur).

Usage notes: Intercipio primarily appears in classical Latin in contexts of military or diplomatic activity—seizing messages, letters, or messengers, or cutting off communications. The imperfect intercipiebat conveys a continuous past action, while the perfect intercepi denotes a completed interception. As with other -io verbs, the verb shares the capio family’s mixed conjugation pattern rather than the standard -o or -ire classes.

Example sentences: Milites nocte nuntios intercipiebant. (The soldiers were intercepting messengers at night.) Hostes litteras interceperant, quibusslud transitus impediebatur. (The enemies had intercepted the letters, thus hindering transmission.)

See also: intercept (English cognate), intercipere, capio family, Latin verb conjugation.