a tratti

Italian

Etymology

Literally, “at tracts”.

Adverb

a tratti

1. in intervals, by coming and going

   è un dolore che compare a tratti

   it's a pain that comes and goes

   (literally, “that appears in intervals”)

   • 2019, George Orwell, translated by Nicola Gardini, Nineteen Eighty-Four, Mondadori:

     Curioso come gli si affacciasse a tratti nella coscienza quell'orrore certo.

     It was curious how that predestined horror moved in and out of one’s consciousness.

     (literally, “Curious how that certain horror showed itself in intervals to his consciousness.”)

Anagrams

• trattai, tritata