English
alternation
Alternation comes from Latin alternō ‘to do one thing and then another, do by turns,…’, from alter ‘the other’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₂el-.
- 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‘the other’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEalternus‘one after the other, alternate’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEalternō‘to do one thing and then another, do by turns, interchange, alternate’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEalternatio
- Englishearliest quotation 1795alternation
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed deepest recorded ancestor
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‘the other’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEalternus‘one after the other, alternate’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEalternō‘to do one thing and then another, do by turns, interchange, alternate’
- Latin, derivedc. 75 BCE–200 CEalternatio
- Englishearliest quotation 1795alternation
Earliest quotation: 1795, William Mason, Essays: “There are Anthems to be found amongst them ,…”
Equivalent to alternate + -ion
Proto-Indo-European *h₂el- ‘beyond, other’
…
Latin alter ‘the other’
Latin alternus ‘one after the other, alternate’
Latin alternō ‘to take turns’
Latin alternātus ‘alternated, vacillated’
English alternate
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *h₂el- ‘beyond, other’
as, all, old, adult, el, element, ultra, ellen, ultimate, elder, outrage, ou, alumni, adolescent, altitude, abolish, alpine, altar, alt, qualification, alias, alto, alum, auld, alp, proletariat, alimony, retaliate, coalesce, foetal, aad, eld, ulterior, exalt, althea, withal, altimeter, 60 more
through Proto-Indo-European *h₂élyos ‘other, another’
else, parallax, alienate, inalienable, alienation, 31 more
through Proto-Italic *aljos ‘another’
through Proto-Italic *aliteros ‘other (of two)’
through Latin alter ‘the other’
Today it means
noun The reciprocal succession of (normally two) things in time or place; the act of following and being followed by turns; alternate succession, performance, or occurrence
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *h₂el- / alternation