▪ I. intercept, n.
(ˈɪntəsɛpt)
[ad. L. intercept-um, neut. of interceptus: see next. In sense 4 and perh. in sense 1, from intercept v.]
1. An interception. spec. of a ball passed or thrown to an opponent.
| 1821 J. Banim Damon & Pythias iv. ii, This hand has cast An intercept between him and the block! 1954 in Webster Add. 1960 T. McLean Kings of Rugby xi. 143 Meredith made an intercept. |
2. Math. The part of a line lying between two points at which it is intersected by lines or planes.
| 1864 in Webster. 1878 Gurney Crystallogr. 18 The lengths..which are cut off by the plane..from the axes are called its intercepts. 1882 C. Smith Conic Sect. (1885) 15 To find the equation of a straight line in terms of the intercepts which it makes on the axes. |
3. Navigation. The angular difference between the calculated and the observed zenith distances of a heavenly body.
| 1901 J. R. Walker Explanation Method Obtaining Position at Sea 15 Let the difference between the calculated and observed zenith distance be k miles nearer (say) at the first observation and l miles further at the second. Let the extremities of these intercepts be A and B. 1939 Geogr. Jrnl. XCIV. 254 Nowadays the best way of obtaining latitude and longitude with a theodolite is the quadrantal and intercept method. 1969 G. Richards Sextant Observations iii. 92 The difference in value between the true altitude and the tabulated altitude is the intercept, and it can be ‘Towards’ (the body) or ‘Away’ (from the body). |
4. A conversation, message, code, etc., that is picked up or discovered by the use of a concealed microphone, by listening to a radio communication, etc.; a device for achieving this.
| 1942 Sun (Baltimore) 10 Dec. 1/3 Distributing these copied excerpts to Government departments and officials who might have an interest in such ‘intercepts’, as they are called. 1945 Ibid. 30 Nov. 3 In the War Department..the intercepts were shown only to Secretary Henry L. Stimson, [etc.]. 1958 Manch. Guardian 13 Jan. 4 The ‘intercepts’ (transcripts of recordings obtained by wire-tapping)..were used as evidence in the hearing. 1967 ‘W. Haggard’ Conspirators xii. 123 We can't monitor every wavelength round the clock..but we've picked up one or two intercepts between Kaunas and this diplomat. 1972 R. Ludlum Osterman Weekend i. 32 Intercepts have been placed on all telephones. 1973 N.Y. Times 22 June 35 Given torrents of intercepts..cryptanalysts could not reach a solution for thousands of years. |
▪ II. † intercept, ppl. a. Obs. rare.
[ad. L. intercept-us, pa. pple. of intercipĕre: see next.]
Intercepted. a. as pa. pple. b. as adj.
| c 1391 Chaucer Astrol. ii. §39 Thay mene the arch meridian þat is contiened or intercept [v.r. except] by-twixe the cenyth and the equinoxial. 1715 De Moivre in Phil. Trans. XXIX. 338 A Curve whose Ordinates..are equal to the Tangents of their respective intercept Arcs. |
▪ III. intercept, v.
(ɪntəˈsɛpt)
Also 6 enter-.
[f. L. intercept-, ppl. stem of intercipĕre, f. inter between + capĕre to take, seize. Cf. F. intercepter (Cotgr. 1611).]
1. trans. To seize, catch, or carry off (a person, ship, letter, etc.) on the way from one place to another; to cut off from the destination aimed at.
| a 1548 Hall Chron., Hen. VII 28 b, Which goyng prevely out..roade about the walles to viewe and see their strength, was sodeynly intercepted and taken of hys enemies. 1560 J. Daus tr. Sleidane's Comm. 409 b, Letters..sent at this time to the Princes confederated and others, but intercepted. 1593 Shakes. 3 Hen. VI, ii. i. 114, I..Marcht toward S. Albons, to intercept the Queene. a 1661 Fuller Worthies (1840) II. 515 He wrote Postils on the Proverbs, and other sermons, which the envy of time hath intercepted from us. 1709 Steele Tatler No. 44 ¶7 Sir John Leak, who lies off of Dunkirk, had intercepted several Ships. 1847 Prescott Peru (1850) II. 233 He also posted a large body..to watch the movements of the enemy, and to intercept supplies. 1868 E. Edwards Ralegh I. xii. 233 The utmost endeavour was to be made to intercept and capture the homeward bound fleets. |
| fig. c 1540 tr. Pol. Verg. Eng. Hist. (Camden) I. 162 Beinge intercepted bie deathe, [he] lefte this worcke to be accomplished to his successor Oswaldus. |
b. To stop the natural course of (light, heat, water, etc.); to cut off (light) from anything.
| 1545 Joye Exp. Daniel x. (R.), God will shortely intercept your brethe..if ye repent not. 1665 Glanvill Scepsis Sci. xix. 124 Like paint on Glass, which intercepts and dyes the light. a 1711 Ken Div. Love Wks. (1838) 302 Ah, Lord! there is a dark cloud of ignorance spread over my soul, that intercepts thy beams. 1821 Craig Lect. Drawing iv. 233 To shadow the parts..from which the light is intercepted. 1856 Stanley Sinai & Pal. xiv. 465 A blue curtain is drawn across the top to intercept the rain admitted through the dome. |
† c. To interrupt, break in upon (esp. a narrative or a person speaking). Obs.
| 1581 J. Bell Haddon's Answ. Osor. 299 Whom the Pope with open mouth entercepted most arrogantly saying [etc.]. 1588 Shakes. Tit. A. iii. i. 40 In some sort they are better than the Tribunes, For that they will not intercept my tale. 1644 Sir E. Dering Prop. Sacrif. bb, Some will intercept me with a question. 1759 Johnson Rasselas xxxviii, I could not listen without intercepting the tale. |
d. To stop, check, or cut off (passage or motion) from one place to another.
| 1596 Spenser State Irel. Wks. (Globe) 661/1 Garrisons..allwayes readye to intercept his going or coming. 1683 Brit. Spec. 251 A Fleet of English Vessels, sent out..to intercept his passage. 1838 Thirlwall Greece II. 313 To destroy the bridges, and intercept the return of Xerxes. 1855 Macaulay Hist. Eng. xvi. III. 636 He was seized with an apprehension that his flight might be intercepted. |
† e. absol. or intr. Obs.
| 1612 Rowlands Knaue Harts 23 Till that Death doe intercept, Now we are borne, we must, and will be kept. 1647 N. Bacon Disc. Govt. Eng. i. lxi. (1739) 120 Thefts belonged to the Sheriff's Court; and (if the Lords Court intercepts not) all batteries and woundings. 1682 Wheler Journ. Greece vi. 409 As soon as we were come up, a Cloud of Snow intercepted between us and the most charming Prospect my Eyes ever beheld. |
2. To cut off or stop (a person or thing) from accomplishing some purpose; to prevent, stop, hinder. Const. from (inf.). Now rare or Obs.
| 1576 Fleming Panopl. Epist. 314, I was intercepted and hindered with most grievous and sorrowfull thoughtes. 1594 Shakes. Rich. III, iv. iv. 137 O she, that might haue intercepted thee By strangling thee..From all the slaughters (wretch) that thou hast done. a 1626 Bacon Maxims & Uses Com. Law ii. (1636) 7 The party altogether prevented and intercepted to come by his right. 1700 Dryden Meleager & Atalanta 33 He tramples down the spikes and intercepts the year. 1784 Cowper Task i. 514 Snug inclosures in the sheltered vale, Where frequent hedges intercept the eye. 1793 Jefferson Writ. (1859) IV. 95 We have been intercepted entirely from the commerce of furs with the Indian nations. |
b. To check, prevent, or cut off (the operation or effect of an event, action, faculty, etc.).
| 1581 Mulcaster Positions xxxvii. (1887) 149 The embush, which lyeth still in waite to intercept our possession. 1591 Shakes. 1 Hen. VI, i. iv. 14 To intercept this inconuenience, A Peece of Ordnance 'gainst it I haue placed. 1618 Bolton Florus (1636) 84 The Victory was intercepted by tempest, and the tryumph miscarried by Shipwracke. 1754 Sherlock Disc. (1759) I. iv. 158 A very thick Film over [his eyes] intercepts all sight. 1843 J. Martineau Chr. Life (1867) 286 Causes less excusable also intercept its influence. |
3. To mark off or include (a certain space) between two points or lines; hence, to contain, enclose. spec. in Math. (see intercept n. 2).
| 1571 Digges Pantom. i. xxxi. K j a, I fynde 10 partes in my scale of altitudes, intercepted with the perpendicular lyne. 1647 Lilly Chr. Astrol. iv. 37, I conclude that the Signe {aries} is intercepted; for so we say when a Signe is not upon any of the cuspes of Houses, but is included betwixt one House and another. 1686 W. Harris tr. Lemery's Course Chem. (ed. 3) 390 The pores of Silver being very near one another, and of a much greater number, do intercept less solid matter, and consequently it must be lighter. 1760–72 tr. Juan & Ulloa's Voy. (ed. 3) I. 14 The number of degrees intercepted between the magnetic and true north of the world. 1793 Smeaton Edystone L. 184 The whole time intercepted betwixt the first stroke upon the Rock, and leaving the Lighthouse compleat, was 3 years, 9 weeks, 3 days. 1827 Hutton Course Math. I. 317 Any two parallel chords intercept equal arcs. |
4. To cut off (one thing) from (another), or (elliptically) from sight, access, etc. † Also with of.
| 1662 H. More Philos. Writ. Pref. Gen. 13 There being other properties in Body that intercepted from it the capacity of perceiving. 1697 W. Dampier Voy. I. 478 These Bays are intercepted, or divided from each other, with as many little rocky points of Woodland. 1700 Dryden Flower & Leaf 220 Thick as the college of the bees in May, When swarming o'er the dusky fields they fly..and intercept the sky. 1765 Sterne Tr. Shandy VII. xl, When I saw the gate which intercepted the tomb, my heart glowed within me. 1814 Chalmers Posth. Wks. (1849) VI. 197 The glass which now intercepts from the eye of the mind the realities of the future world. |