<?xml version="1.0"?><?xml-stylesheet type="text/xsl" href="..\4_X02.xsl"?><ownershipDocument>    <schemaVersion>X0202</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType>    <periodOfReport>2004-11-19</periodOfReport>    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>    <issuer>        <issuerCik>0000830622</issuerCik>        <issuerName>PUTNAM MASTER INTERMEDIATE INCOME TRUST</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>pim</issuerTradingSymbol>    </issuer>    <reportingOwner>        <reportingOwnerId>            <rptOwnerCik>0001202325</rptOwnerCik>            <rptOwnerName>HALDEMAN CHARLES E</rptOwnerName>        </reportingOwnerId>        <reportingOwnerAddress>            <rptOwnerStreet1>PUTNAM INVESTMENTS INC</rptOwnerStreet1>            <rptOwnerStreet2>ONE POST OFFICE SQ</rptOwnerStreet2>            <rptOwnerCity>BOSTON</rptOwnerCity>            <rptOwnerState>MA</rptOwnerState>            <rptOwnerZipCode>02109</rptOwnerZipCode>            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>        </reportingOwnerAddress>        <reportingOwnerRelationship>            <isDirector>0</isDirector>            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>            <isOther>1</isOther>            <officerTitle>Pres. &amp; CEO of Putnam Invest-</officerTitle>            <otherText>ments and issuer's Manager</otherText>        </reportingOwnerRelationship>    </reportingOwner>    <nonDerivativeTable>        <nonDerivativeTransaction>            <securityTitle>                <value>Closed-End Fund</value>            </securityTitle>            <transactionDate>                <value>2004-11-19</value>            </transactionDate>            <transactionCoding>                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>                <transactionCode>P</transactionCode>                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>            </transactionCoding>            <transactionTimeliness>                <value></value>            </transactionTimeliness>            <transactionAmounts>                <transactionShares>                    <value>510</value>                </transactionShares>                <transactionPricePerShare>                    <value>6.5</value>                </transactionPricePerShare>                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>                    <value>A</value>                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>            </transactionAmounts>            <postTransactionAmounts>                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>                    <value>510</value>                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>            </postTransactionAmounts>            <ownershipNature>                <directOrIndirectOwnership>                    <value>D</value>                </directOrIndirectOwnership>            </ownershipNature>        </nonDerivativeTransaction>    </nonDerivativeTable>    <ownerSignature>        <signatureName>Charles E. Haldeman, Jr.</signatureName>        <signatureDate>2004-11-22</signatureDate>    </ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>
