intercession

C2 Topic:People & Society

US /ˌɪntɚˈsɛʃən/ UK /ˌɪntəˈseʃən/ See IPA manual

Freq #58479

Meanings

1

noun
the act of intervening on another person's behalf, especially to plead for help, mercy, or agreement

Her timely intercession persuaded the headmaster to reconsider the punishment.
2

noun
a prayer offered to God on behalf of another person

The service ended with an intercession for the sick and bereaved.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · the act of intervening on... intervention mediation pleading advocacy

2 noun · a prayer offered to god on... intercessory prayersupplication prayer

Opposites

opposition obstruction

Word family

Derived forms intercessionalintercessory

Related forms intercedeintercessor

Etymology

From Middle French and Old French intercession, from Latin intercessio ('an intervention'), from intercedere, literally 'to go between,' formed from inter- ('between') + cedere ('to go'). The religious sense developed from pleading between a worshipper and God.

Topics

People & Society Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# intercession

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ˌɪntɚˈsɛʃən/
**IPA (UK):** /ˌɪntəˈseʃən/
**Frequency rank:** 58479

## Meanings
1. the act of intervening on another person's behalf, especially to plead for help, mercy, or agreement
2. a prayer offered to God on behalf of another person

## Examples
- Her timely intercession persuaded the headmaster to reconsider the punishment.
- The service ended with an intercession for the sick and bereaved.

## Synonyms
- intervention
- mediation
- pleading
- advocacy
- supplication

## Antonyms
- opposition
- obstruction

## Derived Forms
- intercessional
- intercessory

## Related Forms
- intercede
- intercessor

## Etymology
From Middle French and Old French intercession, from Latin intercessio ('an intervention'), from intercedere, literally 'to go between,' formed from inter- ('between') + cedere ('to go'). The religious sense developed from pleading between a worshipper and God.

## Topics
- People & Society
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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