interpose

Interpose is a verb meaning to place or come between two or more things or people, often to separate or mediate, or to introduce something between others. The term derives from Latin interponere, inter- “between” + ponere “to place.” The noun interposition refers to the act or instance of interposing; an interposer can be a person or device that interposes.

In everyday usage, interpose describes both physical and rhetorical actions. A guard may interpose himself between a crowd and a stage; a barrier interposes between two properties. One may interpose a remark or a caveat during a discussion, effectively inserting a point before proceeding. The sense can carry a protective or corrective nuance, not merely a delay.

In legal contexts, to interpose an objection is to challenge a matter raised by the opposing party; courts may permit an interposition to delay or clarify proceedings. In technology and engineering, an interposer is a component placed between two circuits, chips, or layers to connect, shield, or regulate signals.

Interpose is distinct from intervene, which emphasizes involvement to affect an outcome rather than simply inserting between objects. The related noun interposition notes the act itself, or the thing placed between other things.