Where does “altern” come from?

altern (English) comes from Latin alternus, from Latin alter, from Proto-Indo-European h₂élteros, from Proto-Indo-European h₂el- — to grow, nourish; beyond, other; to wander, roam.

altern (English): Acting by turns; alternate

Definitions

  1. Acting by turns; alternate

Ancestry of “altern”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Latinalternusalternate (one after the other), successive
2Latinalterthe other, the second; the one...the other
3Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂élterosother , second
4Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂el-to grow, nourish; beyond, other; to wander, roam
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂el- →