Word of the Day
: January 31, 2007interpellate
playWhat It Means
: to question (as a foreign minister) formally concerning an official action or policy or personal conduct
interpellate in Context
At the international tribunal, U.N. officials interpellated the premier about his country's acquisition of illegal weapons.
Did You Know?
"Interpellate" is a word you might encounter in the international news section of a newspaper or magazine. It refers to a form of political challenging used in the congress or parliament of many nations throughout the world, in some cases provided for in the country's constitution. Formal interpellation isn't practiced in the U.S. Congress, but in places where it is practiced, it can be the first step in ousting an appointed official or bringing to task an elected one. The word was borrowed from the Latin term "interpellatus," past participle of "interpellare," which means "to interrupt or disturb a person speaking." The "interrupt" sense, once used in English, is now obsolete, and "interpellate" should not be confused with "interpolate," which means "to insert words into a text or conversation."
