intermittent
in-ter-MIT-untadjMeaning stopping and starting again, at irregular times
Memory hook INTER-MIT: stops IN BETWEEN. The rain stops, starts and stops again, so Lila opens and shuts her umbrella all afternoon. The rain is intermittent.
The forecast called for intermittent showers, stopping and starting all afternoon.
In context The signal from the stranded ship was intermittent; it would crackle for a few seconds, go silent for minutes, then crackle again.
Similar on-and-off, irregular, sporadic, fitful
Opposite continuous, constant, steady
From Latin intermittere, “to leave off for a while”: inter (between) + mittere (to let go).