Origin: Latin suffix -ate
Intermediate has 7 different meanings across 3 categories:
a substance formed during a chemical process before the desired product is obtained
"The chemists detected an unstable intermediate that briefly appeared in the reaction vessel before transforming into the final fuel additive."
Anything in an intermediate position.
"The new apartment is located in an intermediate position between the bustling downtown area and the quiet suburbs."
In plain English: An intermediate is someone who is neither at the beginning nor at the end of something, but somewhere in the middle.
"The intermediate course was designed for students who had some prior experience but were not yet advanced."
Usage: Use "intermediate" as a noun to refer to something or someone occupying a middle stage between two extremes, such as an intermediate level of skill or an intermediate product in a manufacturing process. Avoid using it as a standalone noun when you simply mean a person who is in the middle, as that usage is often considered awkward; instead, phrase it as "an intermediate step" or "an intermediate version."
act between parties with a view to reconciling differences
"He interceded in the family dispute"
"He mediated a settlement"
To mediate, to be an intermediate.
"The diplomat served as an intermediate between the two warring factions until a cease-fire was agreed upon."
In plain English: To intermediate means to step in between two people or groups to try to stop them from fighting.
"The teacher will intermediate the lesson to ensure everyone understands the concept."
Usage: The word "intermediate" is almost exclusively used as an adjective or noun and does not function as a verb in modern English. Instead of saying someone "intermediated," use the verbs "mediate," "intervene," or "act as a middleman."
lying between two extremes in time or space or state
"going from sitting to standing without intermediate pushes with the hands"
"intermediate stages in a process"
"intermediate stops on the route"
"an intermediate range plane"
around the middle of a scale of evaluation
"an orange of average size"
"intermediate capacity"
"medium bombers"
Being between two extremes, or in the middle of a range.
"The color on my wall is an intermediate shade that blends perfectly between the deep navy and the soft beige."
In plain English: Intermediate means being somewhere in the middle between two levels of skill or difficulty.
"The intermediate level of the course is designed for students who already know the basics."
Usage: Use intermediate to describe something that falls between two extremes or represents a middle step in a progression, such as an intermediate class for students who have mastered basic skills but are not yet advanced. Avoid using it to mean simply "average" or "ordinary," as it specifically implies a position within a sequence rather than a general lack of distinction.
The word intermediate comes from the Medieval Latin term intermediatus, which originally meant "lying in between." It entered English through this Latin form to describe something situated at a middle level or stage.