Alternate

(14), a. [Lat. alternatus, p. p. of alternare.]

1Sense 1. Being by turns; one following the other in succession of time or place; hence, reciprocal.

And bid alternate passions fall and rise. Pope.

2Sense 2. (Bot.) Arising, as leaves, and other parts of a plant, at nearly regular distances from each other, around an axis, and not from the same plane. Lindley.

3Sense 3. (Her.) Succeeding one another by turns; as, alternate quarters.

Alternate alligation. See ALLIGATION. Alternate angles (Geom.), the internal angles made by two lines with a third, on opposite sides of it. If the parallels A B, C D, are cut by the line E F, the angles A G H, G H D, as also the angles B G H and G H C, are called alternate angles.

n. 1. That which happens by turns with something else; vicissitude. [Rare.] “Grateful alternates of substantial peace.” Prior. 2. (Presbyterian Church.) A substitute or second; one designated to take the place of another, in performing some duty, in case of failure.

(Synop., § 130), v. t. [imp. & p. p. ALTERNATED; p. pr. & vb. n. ALTERNATING.] [Lat. alternāre, Fr. alterner, It. alternare. See ALTERN.] To perform by turns, or in succession; to cause to succeed by turns; to change reciprocally.

But fate does so alternate the design, Whilst that in heaven this on earth must shine. B. Jonson.

This word, as a verb, was originally accented (like the adjective and the noun) on the second syllable, as alter'nate, but is now more commonly accented on the first, as al'ternate. [See Note under CONTEMPLATE.]

v. i.

1Sense 1. To happen or to act by turns; as, the flood and ebb tides alternate with each other.

2Sense 2. To follow reciprocally in place;— followed by with.

Rage, shame, and grief alternate in his breast. Phillips.

Different species alternating with each other. Kirwan.