intertwine

Intertwine is a verb meaning to twist or weave together so that parts become interlaced, or to become connected in a complex or inseparable way. It can describe physical action, as when vines, cables, or threads intertwine around a support, or more abstractly, when separate strands of life, fate, or narrative are closely connected.

Etymology traces intertwine to the prefix inter- meaning between or together, combined with twine, to twist. The term entered English in the Early Modern period, reflecting the sense of bringing elements into a woven or bound relation.

Usage examples range from the tangible to the figurative. The vines intertwine around the trellis; two cables may intertwine for added strength. In literature, plotlines or characters may have intertwined destinies, and in history or sociology, communities’ histories can become intertwined through shared events or interactions.

Intertwine is closely related to entwine, interlace, and interweave. They overlap in meaning but carry subtle nuances: entwine emphasizes twisting around something; interweave highlights weaving together from different strands; interlace often refers to crossing threads to form a patterned mesh. Intertwine connotes mutual connection that binds elements into a unified whole.

See also: entwine, interlace, interweave, intertwined.