Where does “alternation” come from?
Alternation comes from Latin alternatio, a noun formed with the suffix -tio from alter meaning "the other," itself derived from ad- "to" and an unattested root meaning "other."
alternation (English): The reciprocal succession of things in time or...
Definitions
- The reciprocal succession of things in time or...
Ancestry of “alternation”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Latin | alternatio | interchange, alternation; alternative |
| 2 | Latin | -tiō | tion, -ation, -ing |
| 3 | Latin | dissertātiō | (spoken) dissertation, discourse, disquisition |
| 4 | Latin | dissertus | arranged, disposed; explained |
| 5 | Latin | disserere | second-person singular future passive indicative... |
| 6 | Latin | dis- | asunder, apart, in two; reversal, removal;... |
| 7 | Latin | calceus | shoe |
| 8 | Latin | calx | limestone; chalk; the finish line |
| 9 | Ancient Greek | χάλιξ | small stone, pebble; gravel, rubble |