per interimadv.adj.
/pər ˈɪnt(ə)rɪm/, /pəːr ˈɪnt(ə)rɪm/, U.S. /pər ˈɪn(t)ərəm/ Chiefly Politics.
A. adv.
For the meantime; during the intervening time. Now rare.
ΘΚΠ
the world > time > [adverb] > meanwhile
all the whilec888
to whilec950
the whilec960
amongOE
emethena1300
to whilesa1300
therewhilesc1320
that whilesc1330
i-whilesa1340
in (that, this, which, etc.) meantime1340
in the meanwhilea1375
(all) the (also this, that) meantimea1382
in the mean season (also space)a1382
the mean seasona1382
the meanwhilea1382
in the meantimec1384
for the meanwhilec1390
in the mean(s) whilesc1390
the whilesa1400
the whilsta1400
whilsta1400
(in) the meanwhile that?1418
therewhilec1430
mesne1439
meanwhile1440
for the meantime1480
while1508
in the while1542
in the mean1565
in the mean way1569
interim1580
in (that, this, which, etc.) meanwhilea1593
meantimea1593
this while1594
mean space1600
among-hands?1609
between (betwixt obsolete or archaic) whiles1647
ad interim1701
per interim1724
interimistically1890
1724 London Gaz. No. 6315/1 The Director of Mentz is charged with the Vote of the Electorate of Bohemia per interim.
1821 T. Jefferson Autobiogr. in Writings (1984) 4 The Philosophical chair became vacant soon after my arrival at college, and he was appointed to fill it per interim.
1866 H. Wheaton Elem. Internat. Law 296 Chargés d'affaires..are either chargés d'affaires ad hoc, who are originally sent and accredited by their governments. or chargés d'affaires per interim, substituted in the place of the minister..during his absence.
1908 Polit. Sci. Q. 23 347 He evidently means to distinguish between chargé d'affaires ad hoc and the chargé d'affaires per interim.
1947 Philos. & Phenomenol. Res. 8 164 There is nothing better than confessing our own soul per interim.
B. adj.
Temporary; provisional.
ΚΠ
1976 Slavic Rev. 35 688 Gajda became chief of staff on a temporary (per interim) basis until a new political cabinet could be formed.
2002 Manch. Evening News (Nexis) 10 Oct. 14 The Blackpool-based group also announced it is paying shareholders a special 1p per interim dividend.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2005; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adv.adj.1724