Meaning 1
An appeal or intervention made on another person's behalf.
Reach for it when naming advocacy that asks a person with power to help or show mercy
Her intercession secured enough time for the family to present the missing records.
Meaning 2
Prayer offered on behalf of another person or group.
Reach for it when using the established religious sense without generalizing it to all traditions
The service included an intercession for families displaced by the fire.
| Meaning 1 | Meaning 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| everyday | ||
| warm | ||
| professional | ||
| formal |
|
|
| literary |
everyday
appeal
Fits when a direct request asks authority to reconsider or help
Careful An appeal may be made for oneself rather than through intercession.
warm
Fits when organized support seeks fair treatment or change
Careful Advocacy is usually sustained and public, unlike one intercession.
professional
intervention
Fits when an action changes the course of events
Careful Intervention need not involve an appeal or benefit another person.
professional
Fits when neutral assistance helps parties resolve a conflict
Careful Mediation seeks balance rather than asking favor for one side.
everyday
prayer
Fits when address to a deity is the central act
Careful Prayer includes praise and confession, not only petitions for others.
literary
supplication
Fits when earnest humble prayer fits an elevated register
Careful Supplication emphasizes humility and may sound archaic.
timely intercession
A timely intercession prevented the automatic closure of the case.
intercession on behalf
Her intercession on behalf of the trainees reopened the review.
prayer of intercession
The gathering ended with a prayer of intercession for the injured.
Definitions and examples are written for this site. How words are chosen Recording: Vealhurl, Southern England accent, from Wikimedia Commons, CC0 Updated
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