Crossword Dictionary

What's The Definition Of Alternate?

\Al*ter"nate\ (?; 277), a. [L. alternatus, p. p. of alternate, fr. alternus. See {Altern}, {Alter}.] 1. Being or succeeding by turns; one following the other in succession of time or place; by turns first one and then the other; hence, reciprocal. And bid alternate passions fall and rise. --Pope. 2. Designating the members in a series, which regularly intervene between the members of another series, as the odd or even numbers of the numerals; every other; every second; as, the alternate members 1, 3, 5, 7, etc.; read every alternate line. 3. (Bot.) Distributed, as leaves, singly at different heights of the stem, and at equal intervals as respects angular divergence. --Gray. {Alternate alligation}. See {Alligation}. {Alternate angles} (Geom.), the internal and angles made by two lines with a third, on opposite sides of it. It the parallels AB, CD, are cut by the line EF, the angles AGH, GHD, as also the angles BGH and GHC, are called alternate angles. {Alternate generation}. (Biol.) See under {Generation}.
\Al*ter"nate\ (?; 277), n. 1. That which alternates with something else; vicissitude. [R.] Grateful alternates of substantial. --Prior. 2. A substitute; one designated to take the place of another, if necessary, in performing some duty. 3. (Math.) A proportion derived from another proportion by interchanging the means.
\Al"ter*nate\ (?; 277), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Alternated}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Alternating}.] [L. alternatus, p. p. of alternare. See {Altern}.] To perform by turns, or in succession; to cause to succeed by turns; to interchange regularly. The most high God, in all things appertaining unto this life, for sundry wise ends alternates the disposition of good and evil. --Grew.
\Al"ter*nate\, v. i. 1. To happen, succeed, or act by turns; to follow reciprocally in place or time; -- followed by with; as, the flood and ebb tides alternate with each other. Rage, shame, and grief alternate in his breast. --J. Philips. Different species alternating with each other. --Kirwan. 2. To vary by turns; as, the land alternates between rocky hills and sandy plains.