in·ter·cept / ˌintərˈsept/ • v. [tr.] obstruct (someone or something) so as to prevent them from continuing to a destination: intelligence agencies intercepted a series of telephone calls I intercepted Ed on his way to work. ∎  chiefly Physics cut off or deflect (light or other electromagnetic radiation). ∎  Math. (of a line or surface) mark or cut off (part of a space, line, or surface).• n. an act or instance of intercepting something: he read the file of radio intercepts. ∎  Math. the point at which a given line cuts a coordinate axis; the value of the coordinate at that point. ∎ Football (of a defensive player) catch a forward pass.DERIVATIVES: in·ter·cep·tive / -tiv/ adj.

intercept XVI. f. intercept-, pp. stem of L. intercipere, f. INTER- + capere take, seize.
So interception XVI. — F. or L.