Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “altering” come from?

Altering comes from the English verb alter, which derives from Medieval Latin alterāre (to change), from Latin alter (other), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European ád (to).

altering (English): present participle of alter; alteration

Definitions

  1. present participle of alter; alteration

Ancestry of “altering”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1EnglishalterTo change the form or structure of; To become...
2Old Frenchalterer—
3Medieval Latinalterareto make other; present active infinitive of...
4Latinalterthe other, the second; the one...the other
5Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂élterosother , second
6Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂el-to grow, nourish; beyond, other; to wander, roam

Words derived from “altering”

  • unaltering
  • unalteringly
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂el- →