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alternant

[ awl-tur-nuhnt, al- or, especially British, awl-tur-nuhnt, al- ]
/ ˈɔl tɜr nənt, ˈæl- or, especially British, ɔlˈtɜr nənt, æl- /
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adjective
noun
Linguistics. a variant form that exists in alternation with another or others.
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Origin of alternant

First recorded in 1630–40, alternant is from the Latin word alternant- (stem of alternāns, present participle of alternāre). See altern, -ant
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use alternant in a sentence

  • Vocibus alternant sensus, fraudisque jocos,Vim duplicem rident, lacrymosaque gaudia miscent.

    The Punster's Pocket-book|Charles Molloy Westmacott

British Dictionary definitions for alternant

alternant
/ (ɔːlˈtɜːnənt) /

adjective
alternating

Word Origin for alternant

C17: from French, from Latin alternāre to alternate
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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