I.“inter quasi rumpere,” Lucr. 5, 287: “inter quasi rupta,” id. 5, 299), v. a., to break apart or asunder, break to pieces, break up (class., esp. in part. pass.).
I. Lit.: “contingere idem terrae necesse est, ut nihil interrumpat, quo labefactari possit,” Cic. N. D. 2, 45, 116: “interrupta et impervia itinera,” Tac. A. 3, 31: “acies,” Liv. 40, 40: “ignes,” scattered about, here and there, Verg. A. 9, 239.—Of bridges, etc.: “pontem fluminis,” to destroy, Caes. B. C. 1, 16; 1, 48; id. B. G. 7, 34; Plaut. Cas. prol. 66; cf. Planc. ap. Cic. Fam. 10, 23, 3; Liv. 2, 10; Just. 2, 13, 5.—Of the ranks of an army, esp. the enemy's line: “interrupta acies,” Liv. 40, 40: “extremum agmen,” Caes. B. C. 1, 64: “aciem hostium,” Liv. 44, 41. —
II. Trop., to break off, interrupt: “orationem,” Caes. B. C. 3, 19: “iter amoris et officii,” Cic. Att. 4, 2: “ordinem,” Col. 11, 2, 25: “sermonem,” Plaut. Trin. 5, 2, 25: “contextum,” Quint. 11, 3, 39: “querelas,” Ov. M. 11, 420: “possessionem,” Dig. 41, 3, 5: “somnos,” Plin. 28, 4, 14, § 55: “ni medici adventus nos interrupisset,” Varr. R. R. 2, 1, 1: “somnum,” Suet. Aug. 78.—Hence, interruptus , a, um, P. a., interrupted: “officium,” Cic. Fam. 5, 8: “consuetudo,” id. ib. 15, 14: “voces,” id. Cael. 24: “dictio silentio,” Quint. 9, 2, 71: “sermo,” Tac. H. 2, 41. — Adv.: interruptē , interruptedly: “narrare,” Cic. de Or. 2, 80, 329.