interfere/intervene

[AUTOMOON]

I came across these two when learning new words.
Anybody detail me the differences between?

Thanks a lot.

 

[RonBee]

It is an interesting question. In one of the definitions of each the other word is used. I think that the main difference is that one that interferes actively intervenes, or meddles, in the affairs of others, while that which intervenes is more or less just there.

I hope that helps.

interfere
(def. 3) To intervene or intrude in the affairs of others; meddle.

interfere
http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=interfere
intervene
http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=intervene

 

[AUTOMOON]

Thank you for the link, but I still want to discuss with a human-being.
Do you mean the difference lies in how much each works:
"to interfere"acts more than "to intervene"?
Or they results differently:
"intervene" make things smooth, and "to interfere" is unwelcome. :?:

 

[Red5]

When you interfere with something, your actions are not welcome.

When you intervene, your actions may, or may not be welcome.

 

[AUTOMOON]

Thank you, I heard that you are a computer whiz.

What about "interfere in/between", if they do exist?

 

[Red5]

You can certainly "interfere in" something, but I don't think you can "interfere between". ;-)

 

[AUTOMOON]

Thank you

Since you don't say "interfere between", what if "intervene between"(a book told me this expression.)?

You told me, " to interfere with" is not welcome.
Do you think "to interfere in" carries exactly the same meaning?


Thanks again.

 

[Red5]

Why don't you look at the following definitions of the two words, and see if you can tell me?

Interfere

Intervene

;-) :smilecol: ;-)

 

[AUTOMOON]

According to the links RonBee has gaven, there is only the definition of each displayed, but no expressions. :x

 

[RonBee]

Interfere is used more often than intervene (by a ratio of about two to one). Also, intervene tends to be used in more formal contexts. A look at both of them in cases of actual usage would be helpful.

• interfere
  http://ms101.mysearch.com/jsp/GGmain.jsp?searchfor=interfere

• intervene
  http://ms101.mysearch.com/jsp/GGmain.jsp?searchfor=intervene
  http://www.hyperdictionary.com/dictionary/intervene

:Fade-col:

 

[RonBee]

Perhaps the main difference (in areas where their definitions are similar) is usage. Example:

• Don't interfere with me.

We would not use intervene in that sentence.

• intervene[list:90829fefc6]He was asked to intervene in the dispute.

[/list:u:90829fefc6]

:usa

 

[RonBee]

interfere

• People do not like to be interfered with.

intervene

• It is not a good idea to intervene in the affairs of others.

 

[Red5]

Some examples of "interfere with"
from cobuild:


in public services - and therefore interfere with the services being
to use other methods. It doesn't interfere with intercourse. Opinions differ
door units so that they don't interfere with the clean lines of your
quick and easy to use and needn't interfere with love-making. [p] bull; The
since the extra 11/2 stops will interfere with creative photography,
clearly born with instincts that interfere with development. The creatures
that free electrons in space interfere with their ability to receive
s involvement as long as it doesn't interfere with the creation of wealth. [h]
compatible equipment will not interfere with other equipment nor itself
electrical signals they carry will interfere with each other. The two Caltech
the British Army" because `it might interfere with him and his schemes of
condition which you think might interfere with your participation in an
equal rights and liberties, and/or interfere with their optimal development
then the Church will not interfere with that?" The teaching of the
and also our numbers, but we do not interfere with our enjoyment.' Ha," snorted
Brian Moss did not, in any case, interfere with her right hand, only with
shielded so they do not interfere with other electronic equipment.
to the proprieties, did not interfere with his successors. Macmillan
and her past will not be allowed to interfere with her new calling.
off him. He knows I wouldn't interfere with what he did on the football
worn without discomfort, and do not interfere with eating, drinking or
of 100mg (six times the RDA) could interfere with the absorption of zinc,
but he never allows it to interfere with his judgement." He added: `
under normal conditions they do not interfere with one another. [p] Let's
there is no need for the state to interfere with those accounts. Equally, an
and forbade anyone in the family to interfere with it. He told her she could
detail later in this book) that can interfere with the natural flow of sexual
orgasmic responsivity and often interfere with vaginal lubrication.
is highly likely that conflict will interfere with the dyadic relationship. [p]
a fear that her sickness might interfere with proper appreciation of
t handle his liquor or let it interfere with his work. Nevertheless, the
if rigid role expectations interfere with age-appropriate
and based on stereotyped ideals interfere with maintaining balance, and may
What motivates the priest not to interfere with Bartley's plan to take the
are going to allow those narcs to interfere with an on-going operation as
of central authoritarianism and interfere with plans to establish a
to reporters, saying that might interfere with the negotiations. But the
Israel will not let the attacks interfere with Middle East peace talks

 

[Red5]

Some examples of "intervene in"
from cobuild:


The Bible reveals that God will intervene in human affairs by means of his
and where they `do not want to intervene in Bosnia), if that is not
was President Bush's decision to intervene in Somalia last December. It
felt need for the Community to intervene in support of President Mikhail
from India that it wouldn't intervene in the crisis nor allow the Tamil
State or by groups of citizens, to intervene in market forces for the good of
right for the commission as such to intervene in the British domestic political
the organisation the right to intervene in the internal affairs of member-
United Nations has no mandate to intervene in the internal affairs of a
position on the Council, he could intervene in the Commander-in-Chief's
can the social worker legitimately intervene in the family and in what ways?
the RCMP lacked effective powers to intervene in Quebec. Nevertheless, there
right to stay in the Chamber and to intervene in other mps' speeches if they
pope he would no longer be able to intervene in this personal way. It is the
control, so claiming `the power to intervene in the most personal and intimate
The High Court has been asked to intervene in a dispute between a Church of
intellectuals who have attempted to intervene in the situation. Particularly
undertaking to be given they might intervene in the action in which the cargo
appeal to the Takeover Panel to intervene in the investor revolt led by the
demonic-grotesque `undertakers" who intervene in the action when they are not
returned to the Balkans to intervene in the crisis that almost ended
by trade union activists not to intervene in violent incidents even if a
revealed yesterday he was ready to intervene in the row. [p] He said: `If I
example. A doorman who tried to intervene in a fight in a car park was
yesterday turned down a plea to intervene in a bid to save a British killer
dangerous cycle, I couldn't always intervene in time to prevent
watching over us and may some day intervene in our affairs to save us from
professionals and systems to intervene in the lives of labeled and
afford natural opportunities to intervene in the system. Because serious
Brady said the US was not ready to intervene in the financial markets to
in which he warned America not to intervene in his dispute with Kuwait. He
that the United States will intervene in Iraq's civil war. This is Ted
t authorize the organization to intervene in the internal affairs of any
week, the Supreme Court refused to intervene in the case of Oliver North.
that later on--that nobody should intervene in the right of the Palestinians
in big business. They'd rather intervene in our personal lives by telling
dispute. In 1988, Congress had to intervene in 10,000 age discrimination
have ruled out immediate plans to intervene in the near future in
the UN is the only body willing to intervene in the fighting in Bosnia when
It always comes up Gee, you intervene in one place, why don't you

 

[Red5]

Some examples of "intervene" on its own
from cobuild:


but concluded it was impossible to intervene. [p] A spokesman for Birt gave a
week urging the Prime Minister to intervene. [p] Mr Major, on a two-day
for the Secretary of State to intervene and issue a Nature Conservation
scribbling," the teacher must intervene and firmly state a policy, such
on the Bush administration to intervene and stop US trade officials from
walker. [p] She was helpless to intervene as the man fired one round from a
Chair. Unfortunately, he did not intervene at once, as he should have done,
rubber. So many `cultural" factors intervene between the state of pure
others looked on. [p] He tried to intervene but was sworn at and one man,
and the French were not going to intervene, Captain Fricke noted in the
which you have given us." May I intervene here?" macpherson asked. Please
he told another deputy who tried to intervene: `I'll pull your beard out hair
embassy would be powerless to intervene if he were arrested. He'd be at
Indian supreme court has refused to intervene immediately in the row but called
well-trained people ready to intervene in moments of crisis like the
United Nations has no mandate to intervene in what are still regarded as the
the Security Council should not intervene in the internal affairs of a
and patriarchal, it can still intervene in households in ways that are
the RCMP lacked effective powers to intervene in Quebec. Nevertheless, there
intellectuals who have attempted to intervene in the situation. Particularly
whether the Americans would intervene in the event of a direct Chinese
Secretary has decided not to intervene in a Birmingham primary school
Brady said the US was not ready to intervene in the financial markets to
It always comes up Gee, you intervene in one place, why don't you
most part, quiet, but when he did intervene it was to tell Judy and Claire
resulting from poor efforts to intervene. It can be useful too as a part
the United States is not going to intervene militarily in Iraq's internal
enough support within the OAS to intervene militarily? [p] Goldstein: Well,
leaders say they are unwilling to intervene militarily to reverse them. They
some naval officers could and did intervene on behalf of their subordinates
over whether the army would intervene on the side of Serbia's hard-line
Gorbachev'searlier attempts to intervene personally to protect his former
territory and ready at any time to intervene physically to re-establish
how to interpret such behaviors and intervene properly. If hypoglycemia is the
with responsibility for the sector intervene to save what can be saved. [p]
appealed to the United States to intervene to halt the civil war. The
over asking the United Nations to intervene to halt the trials in Kuwait of
leader Tony Blair was forced to intervene twice to help Mr Straw take on Mr
has always had the power to intervene when the free play of competition
right did the United States have to intervene? Why couldn't the Dominicans

 

[Red5]

Some examples of "interfere" on its own
from cobuild:


a forceful grandmother or aunt to interfere. East Anglia is rich in single
international law and would not interfere in the internal affairs of
media would not be permitted to interfere in the affairs of Singapore. He
Peter, you're team manager, I don't interfere in those things but I'll talk to
year, said of Howard's attempt to interfere in sentencing: `It's all yah-boo
advises foreign `meddlers" not to interfere in China's internal affairs. [p]
that Saudi Arabia could not interfere in British law, and that the
The governors also pledged not to interfere in the day-to-day running of the
and premenstrual tension. Does not interfere with lovemaking. [p] [p] [h] Main
underlying habit patterns which interfere with our natural balance and co-
tenants. [p] If the tenants were to interfere with the fire protection system,
family take the opportunity to interfere - with tragic consequences.
a part of the camera that doesn't interfere with normal usage. [p] [h]
clearly born with instincts that interfere with development. The creatures
as attempts by the United States to interfere with their country's economy,
overcome the breaks that sometimes interfere with the flow of speech. It
they'd be here. But they won't interfere with your comfort. It's just the
explained. [p] No-one is likely to interfere with a funeral party, but if they
mind their own business" and not to interfere with his They had the perfect
their respect for the papacy to interfere with their enjoyment of a good
then the Church will not interfere with that?" The teaching of the
as you asked. Since that could interfere with what you have in mind, I've
that you cannot then `catch up" interfere with the relaxation and with your
law and nothing must be allowed to interfere with the confidentiality of its
remind Mrs Forsyth not to interfere with the running of various
ripped off [p] His illness will not interfere with the release of Hell Freezes
as the fingers of one hand again interfere with the light in the spaces of
there is no need for the state to interfere with those accounts. Equally, an
and forbade anyone in the family to interfere with it. He told her she could
if taken during pregnancy and may interfere with the production of breast
been won if it should in the least interfere with the revolutionary spirit of
a fear that her sickness might interfere with proper appreciation of
and delight that the CCF did not interfere with editorial decisions on the
severity of an illness. This may interfere with effective family health
what we have learned about what can interfere with those basic processes. And
What motivates the priest not to interfere with Bartley's plan to take the
as drugs or surgery? Or do these interfere with the action of prayer? Are
President Saddam Hussein not to interfere with US troops building camps for
issues of taste and morality to interfere with putting together culturally
also makes it easier for Iraq to interfere with the delivery of medical and

 

[RonBee]

interfere

• Solar Storm Threatens to Interfere with Cell Phones, Pagers
  http://www.bakutoday.net/view.php?d=6726

• Lie does not interfere with sex
  http://funreports.com/2002/06/03/29635.html

• Molecules Designed To Interfere With DNA Upon Signal
  http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2003/03/030326074349.htm

• The state of Florida should stop interfering with a woman’s ability to make choices concerning the course of her pregnancy and medical care, said the American Civil Liberties Union, the Center for Reproductive Rights, and Florida NOW, which filed a friend-of-the-court brief in a case involving a severely disabled pregnant woman.
  http://www.crlp.org/pr_03_0617flguardian.html

• CHAIRMAN of the Social Security Commission, Frans Kapofi, said yesterday that President Sam Nujoma did not interfere with the appointment of a CEO for the SSC.
  http://www.namibian.com.na/2003/august/national/03F463CB86.html

• Lawrence won't interfere with Crean policies
  
  LABOR backbencher Carmen Lawrence tonight promised not to interfere with Opposition Leader Simon Crean's policies if she was elected as the party's national president. But she conceded Mr Crean would probably not want her in the job.
  http://www.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,7065458%5E421,00.html

• More Complicated Mental Tasks Interfere With Drivers' Ability To Detect Visual Targets
  Washington -- Undertaking complex mental tasks can reduce a driver's ability to detect visual targets by as much as 30 percent. New research on driving in real traffic confirms that mental workload can interfere with the capacity to detect visual targets, discriminate among them, and select a response. Higher-level mental tasks take attentional resources away from the road, resulting in those all-too-familiar post-accident reports: "I didn't expect it" or "I saw it too late."
  http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2003/06/030630110251.htm

• Russia not to interfere with Nagorny Karabakh conflict
  http://newsfromrussia.com/main/2003/11/11/51130.html

• Will breastfeeding interfere with my sex drive?
  http://www.babycenter.com/expert/baby/babybreastfeed/11809.html

• CHRONIC STRESS CAN INTERFERE WITH NORMAL FUNCTION OF THE IMMUNE SYSTEM, SUGGESTS NEW RESEARCH
  May Increase Susceptibility To Inflammatory Diseases Such As Allergic, Autoimmune Or Cardiovascular Diseases
  
  WASHINGTON - Chronic stress not only makes people more vulnerable to catching illnesses but can also impair their immune system's ability to respond to its own anti-inflammatory signals that are triggered by certain hormones, say researchers, possibly altering the course of an inflammatory disease.
  http://www.apa.org/releases/chronicstress.html

• Study: Cell Phones Interfere with Medical Devices
  http://www.wirelessnewsfactor.com/perl/story/6567.html

 

[RonBee]

intervene

• GET THE KEYS: How You Can Intervene
  http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/people/injury/alcohol/innocent/

• The Schindlers had been publicly pressing Bush to intervene.
  http://www.cnn.com/2003/LAW/10/21/coma.woman/

• Supreme Court won't intervene in N.J. case
  With the midterm elections four weeks away, the U.S. Supreme Court refused Monday to intervene in New Jersey's ballot dispute, permitting Democrats to replace Sen. Robert Torricelli with Frank Lautenberg as their U.S. Senate nominee.
  http://www.cnn.com/2002/ALLPOLITICS/10/07/elec02.nj.s.race/

• How to Intervene in a Fight. On your way to class, after lunch, you round the
  corner and see two boys swinging fists at each other. What do you do?
  http://ms101.mysearch.com/jsp/GGmain.jsp?searchfor=intervene

• Aug. 11, 2003, 6:47AM 'Killer D's' ask Bush
  to intervene in redistricting fight.
  http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/special/03/legislature/2041300

• "The stage has been set for the Governor General to exercise the reserve powers of the Crown and intervene on Margaret Wilson's plan to appoint the Supreme Court judges," Richard Worth, National's Justice Spokesman said today.
  http://www.scoop.co.nz/mason/stories/PA0310/S00675.htm

To intervene is generally seen as more positive that to interfere.

 

[Red5]

Those are great, Ron! ;-)

 

[Casiopea]

I came across these two when learning new words.
Anybody detail me the differences between?

Thanks a lot.

Well, first of all, intervene comes from Latin and interfere comes from Middle French. Second of all,

intervene means, come between or come in the middle of, from Latin inter- "between" + venire "come".

interfere means, strike between, prevent, obstruct, meddle with, from Middle French entre- "between" + ferir "to strike".

To intervene is to act as a middle person so as to help the flow of the process.

To interfere is to obstruct the flow of the process.

Examples:

Could you intervene on my behalf? (OK) act as a middle person
Could you interfere on my behalf? (Not OK) act as one who meddles