Interrupt, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Interrupted; p. pr. & vb. n. Interrupting.]
Etymology: [L. interruptus, p. p. of interrumpere to interrupt; inter between + rumpere to break. See Rupture.]
1. To break into, or between; to stop, or hinder by breaking in upon the course or progress of; to interfere with the current or motion of; to cause a temporary cessation of; as, to interrupt the remarks speaking. Do not interrupt me in my course. Shak.
2. To divide; to separate; to break the monotony of; as, the evenness of the road was not interrupted by a single hill.
1 other Webster entry under this spelling
Interrupt, p. a.
Broken; interrupted. [Obs.] Milton.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for interrupt; he lists it under hinder, interpose, obstruct.
Where he writes about it:
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. — from interpose