Word
intercession
Phoneticsin·ter·ces·sion, stress on the third syllable
US/ˌɪnɝˈsɛʃən/
UK/ˌɪntəsˈɛʃən/
Countable & uncountable
Definition
n. the act of asking for help or forgiveness on behalf of someone else. It is often used in religious contexts when people pray for others.
n. the act of intervening on behalf of another to obtain a favor, mercy, or relief. Frequently associated with theological contexts where a third party mediates between a deity and a supplicant.
Examples
“The priest offered a prayer of intercession for the sick.”
“The diplomat's intercession eventually led to a ceasefire between the two warring factions.”
“In many traditional liturgical practices, the intercession of saints is believed to provide a direct channel for the faithful to seek divine mercy and guidance.”
Examples
simple
“The priest offered a prayer of intercession for the sick.”
contextual
“The diplomat's intercession eventually led to a ceasefire between the two warring factions.”
complex
“In many traditional liturgical practices, the intercession of saints is believed to provide a direct channel for the faithful to seek divine mercy and guidance.”
Real-World Examples
“Since then, southern Italians have attributed all sorts of miracles to his intercession, including extinguishing the volcanic fires of Mount Vesuvius in 1631.” “As a righteous, zealous partisan herself, Astell envisioned meeting her ‘enemies in heaven hereafter’ where ‘they shall be sensible that their admission is in some measure owing to our own importunate intercessions for them’.” Etymology
First attested in the early 15th Century. From Middle French intercession, from Old French intercession, from Latin intercessiō, from intercēdō, from inter- (“between”) + cēdō (“to go”) (English cede), literally “go-between”.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/intercession