Intromission

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˌɪn.tɹəˈmɪʃ.ən/

Definitions

1. The insertion or introduction of one object into another, or the act of allowing entrance or admission into a space or group
2. the act of inserting one thing into another or permitting something to enter a confined space or closed system
3. the process of introducing an object inward through an opening or allowing entry into a restricted area or organization

Etymology: Intromission has a sharper history than its plain sense suggests. Its Latin roots are "intro" meaning "into" and "missio," a sending, which together gave the sense of sending something in or letting it enter. Medieval Latin then stretched the word to cover admission and introduction in a wider sense, and it even carried a meaning of usurpation, the seizing of something that was not yours to take. That range of senses, from welcoming someone in to forcibly taking over, shows how easily a word for entry could slide toward intrusion. In English the word has stayed close to its physical core. It describes the act of putting one thing into another, and it is most often used in technical or scientific contexts, where the entering object or substance is the focus. The word is a learned formation built from Latin parts rather than an everyday term that grew organically, so its vocabulary was chosen deliberately by writers who wanted precision.

Synonyms: insertion, introduction, influx, entry, arrival

Antonyms: exclusion, omission, removal, departure, exit