intervened

Intervened is the past tense of the verb intervene. It refers to stepping in or becoming involved in a situation to alter its course, prevent harm, resolve a dispute, or influence an outcome. Intervening can be intentional and voluntary, or compelled by circumstance.

Etymology: The word comes from Middle English intervene, from Latin intervenire “to come between,” from inter “between” + venire “to come.”

Usage: In ordinary speech, people may intervene in a quarrel, in a crisis, or in a process that is not progressing well. In medicine, intervention denotes procedures or treatments taken to diagnose or treat a condition. In law and international relations, intervention describes actions by a third party that affect the course of events, such as mediating negotiations or deploying aid or forces. Examples: “The nurse intervened to stop the bleeding.” “Diplomats intervened to broker a peace agreement.”

Nuances and related terms: Intervene emphasizes entering between parties or processes to alter outcomes, whereas intercede implies pleading on behalf of another, and interfere suggests unwanted or improper involvement. In international affairs, intervention is often debated in terms of sovereignty, humanitarian need, and legality.

See also: intervene, intervention (noun), interventionism, mediator, interference, sovereignty.