The phrase "at intervals" is commonly used to describe something that occurs intermittently or with breaks in between. The pronunciation of the word "interval" is /ˈɪntərvəl/ in IPA phonetic transcription. The spelling of this phrase is straightforward, with "at" being spelled as it is normally, and "intervals" following standard English spelling conventions. It is important to note that the stress falls on the second syllable, as indicated by the bolded symbol in the phonetic transcription.
"At intervals" is a phrase that refers to the occurrence or happening of something in a non-continuous manner, with breaks or pauses in between. It suggests that an action, event, or phenomenon takes place repeatedly but with intermittent breaks or gaps, rather than occurring continuously or consistently.
The phrase can also describe the regularity or pattern in the occurrence of something. When an action happens "at intervals," it implies that it occurs repeatedly but not at fixed or uniform time intervals. The breaks or pauses between these occurrences can vary in length and are often irregular.
For example, if someone says, "I check my emails at intervals throughout the day," it means they examine their emails periodically but not continuously. They might stop and check their inbox every few hours or at certain intervals during the day, rather than constantly monitoring it.
In a broader sense, "at intervals" can refer to any situation where there are gaps or pauses between the occurrence of something. It does not specify the exact duration or length of these intervals but emphasizes the non-continuous nature of the event or action.
The word "interval" originated from the Latin term "intervallum", which is a combination of "inter" meaning "between" and "vallum" meaning "wall" or "rampart". Initially, "intervallum" referred to the space between two fortifications or walls. Over time, the meaning expanded to encompass the space or period between two points in time or physical objects. The phrase "at intervals" essentially means something occurring or happening periodically or at regular intervals.