Part 200

Alternate alligation. See Alligation. -- Alternate angles (Geom.), the internal and angles made by two lines with a third, on opposite sides of it. It the parallels AB, CD, are cut by the line EF, the angles AGH, GHD, as also the angles BGH and GHC, are called alternate angles. -- Alternate generation. (Biol.) See under Generation.

Al*ter"nate (?; 277), n. 1. That which alternates with something else; vicissitude. [R.]

Grateful alternates of substantial. Prior.

2. A substitute; one designated to take the place of another, if necessary, in performing some duty.

3. (Math.) A proportion derived from another proportion by interchanging the means.

Al"ter*nate (?; 277), 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.

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.

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.

Al*ter"nate*ness, n. The quality of being alternate, or of following by turns.

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.

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.

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.

2. Either of two things or propositions offered to one's choice. Thus when two things offer a choice of one only, the two things are called alternatives.

Having to choose between two alternatives, safety and war, you obstinately prefer the worse. Jowett (Thucyd.).

3. The course of action or the thing offered in place of another.

If this demand is refused the alternative is war. Lewis.

With no alternative but death. Longfellow.