Where does “alter” come from?
Alter comes from Medieval Latin alterare, derived from Latin alter meaning "other," which traces through Latin al- and ad- back to Proto-Indo-European ád and h₂éd.
alter (English): To change the form or structure of; To become...
Definitions
- To change the form or structure of; To become...
Ancestry of “alter”, step by step
alter traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via Old French alterer
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Old French | alterer | — |
| 2 | Medieval Latin | alterare | to make other; present active infinitive of... |
| 3 | Latin | alter | the other, the second; the one...the other |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂élteros | other , second |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂el- | to grow, nourish; beyond, other; to wander, roam |