"not continuous," 1580s, from Latin intermiss-, past-participle stem of intermittere "leave off, leave an interval" (see intermit).
Entries linking to intermissive
intermit v.
1540s, "to interrupt" (obsolete); 1570s as "to discontinue for a time, suspend" (trans.) and "cease for a time" (intrans.), from Latin intermittere "to leave off, leave an interval, omit, suspend, interrupt, neglect," from inter "between" (see inter-) + mittere "to send" (see mission). Related: Intermitted; intermitting.