In·ter·vene v. i. [imp. & p. p. Intervened p. pr. & vb. n. Intervening.]
 1. To come between, or to be between, persons or things; -- followed by between; as, the Mediterranean intervenes between Europe and Africa.
 2. To occur, fall, or come between, points of time, or events; as, an instant intervened between the flash and the report; nothing intervened ( i. e., between the intention and the execution) to prevent the undertaking.
 3. To interpose; as, to intervene to settle a quarrel.
 4. In a suit to which one has not been made a party, to put forward a defense of one's interest in the   subject matter.