myEtymology.com: English etymology of alternative

Etymology of the English word alternative

the English word alternative

derived from the English word alternate

derived 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-

using the English suffix -ive

derived from the French suffix -ive

derived from the Latin suffix -ivus