3. (Math.) A proportion derived from another proportion by interchanging the means.
Alternate
(Al"ter*nate) v. t. [imp. & p. p. Alternated; p. pr. & vb. n. Alternating.] [L. alternatus, p.
p. of alternare. See Altern.] To perform by turns, or in succession; to cause to succeed by turns; to
interchange regularly.
The most high God, in all things appertaining unto this life, for sundry wise ends alternates the disposition
of good and evil.
Grew.
Alternate
(Al"ter*nate), v. i.
1. To happen, succeed, or act by turns; to follow reciprocally in place or time; — followed by with; as, the
flood and ebb tides alternate with each other.
Rage, shame, and grief alternate in his breast.
J. Philips.
Different species alternating with each other.
Kirwan.
2. To vary by turns; as, the land alternates between rocky hills and sandy plains.
Alternately
(Al*ter"nate*ly) adv.
1. In reciprocal succession; succeeding by turns; in alternate order.
2. (Math.) By alternation; when, in a proportion, the antecedent term is compared with antecedent, and
consequent.
Alternateness
(Al*ter"nate*ness), n. The quality of being alternate, or of following by turns.
Alternation
(Al`ter*na"tion) n. [L. alternatio: cf. F. alternation.]
1. The reciprocal succession of things in time or place; the act of following and being followed by turns; alternate
succession, performance, or occurrence; as, the alternation of day and night, cold and heat, summer
and winter, hope and fear.
2. (Math.) Permutation.
3. The response of the congregation speaking alternately with the minister. Mason.
Alternation of generation. See under Generation.
Alternative
(Al*ter"na*tive) a. [Cf. F. alternatif.]
1. Offering a choice of two things.
2. Disjunctive; as, an alternative conjunction.
3. Alternate; reciprocal. [Obs.] Holland.
Alternative
(Al*ter"na*tive), n. [Cf. F. alternative, LL. alternativa.]
1. An offer of two things, one of which may be chosen, but not both; a choice between two things, so
that if one is taken, the other must be left.
There is something else than the mere alternative of absolute destruction or unreformed existence.
Burke.
