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altern

American  
[awl-tern, al-] / ˈɔl tərn, ˈæl- /

adjective

Archaic.

  1. alternate; following one another.

Etymology

Origin of altern

1635–45; < Latin altern ( us ) interchangeable, alternating, equivalent to alter the other ( alter ) + -nus adj. suffix

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Annales Typographici, 64 Annalen der altern Deutschen Literatur, &c., ib.

From Bibliomania; or Book-Madness A Bibliographical Romance by Dibdin, Thomas Frognall

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.