Where does “alter” come from?
alter (Latin) comes from Proto-Indo-European h₂élteros, from Proto-Indo-European h₂el- — to grow, nourish; beyond, other; to wander, roam.
alter (Latin): the other, the second; the one...the other
Definitions
- the other, the second; the one...the other
Ancestry of “alter”, step by step
alter traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via Proto-Indo-European h₂élteros
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂élteros | other , second |
| 2 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂el- | to grow, nourish; beyond, other; to wander, roam |
via Proto-Italic *aliteros
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Proto-Italic | *aliteros | other of two |