interponere

Interponere is a Latin verb meaning to place between or to interpose. It can denote the physical act of putting something between two objects, as well as the figurative action of presenting, submitting, or introducing an argument, plea, petition, or objection before a person or authority. In legal and rhetorical contexts, the sense of bringing something before an official body or raising an obstacle is common.

Etymology and form: the word is built from the prefix inter- “between” plus ponere “to place.” Its principal parts are interponō, interponere, interposuī, interpositum, making it a regular third-conjugation verb. This yields a standard paradigm in Latin conjugation, with the active forms used to describe both concrete placement and the act of presenting or interposing a matter for consideration.

Usage in Latin: interponere appears in classical prose with both physical and procedural meanings. It can describe placing an object between others, as well as presenting a matter to a magistrate, judge, or assembly—e.g., submitting a petition, plea, or objection for consideration. The sense of interposing an obstacle or objection is closely tied to its communicative use, extending the term beyond mere spatial placement.

Romance languages: the verb’s semantic core survives in the Italian cognate interporre, meaning to place between and to present or file something before an authority. In Italian legal language, one can interporre un ricorso (to file an appeal) or interporre obiezioni. The noun interposizione (interposition) and the past participle interposto/interposta are related forms.

In sum, interponere historically bridges the ideas of physical insertion and the act of submitting, objecting, or presenting a matter for decision.