Etymology of the English word alternate
the English word
alternatederived from the Late Latin word
alternatio (alternation, alternate movement; alternative)
derived from the Latin word
alternare (do by turns, vary; alternate)
derived from the Latin word
alternus (alternate, one after the, every other)
derived from the Latin word
alter (one; second, another; second, further, next)
derived from the Proto-Indo-European root
*al-Date
The earliest known usage of alternate in English dates from the 16th century.
Derivations in English
alternative,
alternator,
alternated,
alternatingCognates
French
alternerUsage
Word found in Modern English
