English
altern
Altern comes from Latin alternus ‘every other, alternate’, from Proto-Italic *aljos ‘another’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₂el- ‘beyond, other’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂el-‘beyond, other’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂élyos‘other, another’reconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*aljos‘another’reconstructed
- Proto-Italic, derivedc. 1500–700 BCE*aliteros‘other (of two)’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEalter‘other’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEalternus‘every other, alternate’
- Englishearliest quotation 1667altern
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂el-‘beyond, other’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂élyos‘other, another’reconstructed
- Proto-Italicc. 1500–700 BCE*aljos‘another’reconstructed
- Proto-Italic, derivedc. 1500–700 BCE*aliteros‘other (of two)’reconstructed
- Latinc. 75 BCE–200 CEalter‘other’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEalternus‘every other, alternate’
- Englishearliest quotation 1667altern
Earliest quotation: 1667, John Milton, Book CLXXXIX: “And God made two great lights, great for thir…”
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *h₂el- ‘beyond, other’
as, all, old, el, adult, element, ultimate, ellen, ultra, outrage, elder, ou, qualification, alumni, adolescent, altitude, abolish, alpine, altar, alias, alt, proletariat, alum, auld, alimony, alto, retaliate, alp, coalesce, aad, eld, foetal, ulterior, althea, exalt, withal, altimeter, 61 more
through Proto-Indo-European *h₂élyos ‘other, another’
else, alienation, parallax, alienate, inalienable, 32 more
through Proto-Italic *aljos ‘another’
through Proto-Italic *aliteros ‘other (of two)’
Today it means
adj Acting by turns; alternate.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *h₂el- / altern