Part 351

<hw>Al*ter"nate*ness</hw>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>The quality of being alternate, or of following by turns.</def>

<h1>Alternation</h1> <Xpage=44>

<hw>Al`ter*na"tion</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[L. <ets>alternatio</ets>: cf. F. <ets>alternation</ets>.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>The reciprocal succession of things in time or place; the act of following and being followed by turns; alternate succession, performance, or occurrence; <as>as, the <ex>alternation</ex> of day and night, cold and heat, summer and winter, hope and fear</as>.</def>

<p><b>2.</b> <fld>(Math.)</fld> <def>Permutation.</def>

<p><b>3.</b> <def>The response of the congregation speaking alternately with the minister.</def>

<i>Mason.</i>

<cs><col>Alternation of generation</col>. <cd>See under <er>Generation</er>.</cd></cs>

<h1>Alternative</h1> <Xpage=44>

<hw>Al*ter"na*tive</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <ety>[Cf. F. <ets>alternatif</ets>.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>Offering a choice of two things.</def>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>Disjunctive; <as>as, an <ex>alternative</ex> conjunction</as>.</def>

<p><b>3.</b> <def>Alternate; reciprocal.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<i>Holland.</i>

<h1>Alternative</h1> <Xpage=44>

<hw>Al*ter"na*tive</hw>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[Cf. F. <ets>alternative</ets>, LL. <ets>alternativa</ets>.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>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.</def>

<blockquote>There is something else than the mere <b>alternative</b> of absolute destruction or unreformed existence. <i>Burke.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>Either of two things or propositions offered to one's choice. Thus when <i>two</i> things offer a choice of <i>one</i> only, the two things are called <er>alternatives</er>.</def>

<blockquote>Having to choose between two <b>alternatives</b>, safety and war, you obstinately prefer the worse. <i>Jowett (Thucyd. ).</i></blockquote>

<p><b>3.</b> <def>The course of action or the thing offered in place of another.</def>

<blockquote>If this demand is refused the <b>alternative</b> is war. <i>Lewis.</i></blockquote>

<blockquote>With no <b>alternative</b> but death. <i>Longfellow.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>4.</b> <def>A choice between more than two things; one of several things offered to choose among.</def>

<blockquote>My decided preference is for the fourth and last of th<?/<?/ <b>alternatives</b>. <i>Gladstone.</i></blockquote>

<h1>Alternatively</h1> <Xpage=44>

<hw>Al*ter"na*tive*ly</hw>, <tt>adv.</tt> <def>In the manner of alternatives, or that admits the choice of one out of two things.</def>

<h1>Alternativeness</h1> <Xpage=44>

<hw>Al*ter"na*tive*ness</hw>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>The quality of being alternative, or of offering a choice between two.</def>

<h1>Alternity</h1> <Xpage=44>

<hw>Al*ter"ni*ty</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[LL. <ets>alternitas</ets>.]</ety> <def>Succession by turns; alternation.</def> <mark>[R.]</mark>