Definition of intercalate
intercalated
;intercalating
transitive verb
1 : to insert (something, such as a day) in a calendar
2 : to insert or position between or among existing elements or layers
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Examples of intercalate in a Sentence
between the recipes for hearty peasant dishes, the author intercalates fond reminiscences of her year in the French countryside
Did You Know?
Intercalate was formed from the Latin prefix inter-, meaning "between" or "among," and the Latin verb calare, meaning "to proclaim" or "to call." It was originally associated with proclaiming the addition of a day or month in a calendar. An instance of intercalation occurred in the earliest versions of the Roman calendar, which originally consisted of 304 days and 10 months and was determined by the lunar cycle. When the Romans realized that they had overlooked a two-month cycle during the winter, the king "intercalated" the months January and February. Eventually, the word's use broadened to include other kinds of insertion.
Origin and Etymology of intercalate
Latin intercalatus, past participle of intercalare, from inter- + calare to proclaim, call — more at low
Synonym Discussion of intercalate
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See words that rhyme with intercalate Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for intercalate Spanish Central: Translation of intercalate Nglish: Translation of intercalate for Spanish speakers
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