Interpose, v. i.
1. To be or come between. Long hid by interposing hill or wood. Cowper.
2. To step in between parties at variance; to mediate; as, the prince interposed and made peace. Pope.
3. To utter a sentiment by way of interruption. Boyle.
Syn. -- To intervene; intercede; mediate; interfere; intermeddle. -- To Interpose, Intermeddle, Interfere. A man may often interpose with propriety in the concerns of others; he can never intermeddle without being impertinent or officious; nor can be interfere without being liable to the same charge, unless he has rights which are interfered with. "In our practical use, interference is something offensive. It is the pushing in of himself between two parties on the part of a third who was not asked, and is not thanked for his pains, and who, as the feeling of the word implies, had no business there; while interposition is employed to express the friendly, peacemaking mediation of one whom the act well became, and who, even if he was not specially invited thereunto, is still thanked for what he has done." Trench.
2 other Webster entries under this spelling
Interpose, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Interposed; p. pr. & vb. n. Interposing.]
1. To place between; as, to interpose a screen between the eye and the light. Mountains interposed Make enemies of nations. Cowper.
2. To thrust; to intrude; to between, either for aid or for troubling. What watchful cares do interpose themselves Betwixt your eyes and night Shak. The common Father of mankind seasonably interposed his hand, and rescues miserable man. Woodward.
3. To introduce or inject between the parts of a conversation or argument. Milton.
Interpose, n.
Interposition. [Obs.]
Shades of meaning
To interpose is to place or come between other things or persons, usually as a means of obstruction or prevention of some effect or result that would otherwise occur, or be expected to take place. Intercede and interpose are used in a good sense; intermeddle always in a bad sense, and interfere frequently so. To intercede is to come between persons who are at variance, and plead with the stronger in behalf of the weaker. One may interpose with authority; he intercedes by petition. To intermeddle is to thrust oneself into the concerns of others with a petty officiousness; meddling commonly arises from idle curiosity; "every fool will be meddling," Prov. xx, 3; to interfere is to intrude into others' affairs with more serious purpose, with or without acknowledged right or propriety. Intercept is applied to an object that may be seized or stopped while in transit; as, to intercept a letter or a messenger; interrupt is applied to an action which might or should be continuous, but is broken in upon (L. rumpere, to break) by some disturbing power; as, the conversation was interrupted. One who arbitrates or mediates must do so by the request or at least with the consent of the contending parties; the other words of the group imply that he steps in of his own accord.
Prepositions
Interpose between the combatants; in the matter.