different between alternate vs decussate

English

Etymology

From Latin altern? (“take turns”), from alternus (“one after another, by turns”), from alter (“other”) + -rnus. See altern, alter.

Pronunciation

Adjective, noun

• (UK) IPA^(key): /?l.?t??(?).n?t/
• (US) IPA^(key): /??l.t?.n?t/, /??l.t?.n?t/

Verb

• (UK) IPA^(key): /??l.t?(?).?ne?t/
• (US) IPA^(key): /??l.t?.ne?t/, /??l.t?.ne?t/

Adjective

alternate (not comparable)

1. Happening by turns; one following the other in succession of time or place; first one and then the other (repeatedly)
2. (mathematics) Designating the members in a series, which regularly intervene between the members of another series, as the odd or even numbers of the numerals; every other; every second.

3. (US) Other; alternative.

4. (botany, of leaves) Distributed singly at different heights of the stem, and at equal intervals as respects angular divergence.

   (Can we find and add a quotation of Gray to this entry?)

Usage notes

• In British English this adjective means, according to OED and other sources, one after the other or similar. It does not mean the same as alternative, which OED specifically marks as an American meaning of alternate. In international English it is thus thought better to observe the British distinction: then the meanings of alternative and alternate will be clear to everyone.

Derived terms

Related terms

• alternation
• alternative

Translations

Noun

alternate (plural alternates)

1. That which alternates with something else; vicissitude.
   • 1718, Matthew Prior, Solomon on the Vanity of the World

     Grateful alternates of substantial peace.

2. (US) A substitute; an alternative; one designated to take the place of another, if necessary, in performing some duty.
3. (mathematics) A proportion derived from another proportion by interchanging the means.
4. (US) A replacement of equal or greater value or function.
5. (heraldry) Figures or tinctures that succeed each other by turns.

Translations

Verb

alternate (third-person singular simple present alternates, present participle alternating, simple past and past participle alternated)

1. (transitive) To perform by turns, or in succession; to cause to succeed by turns; to interchange regularly.
2. (intransitive) To happen, succeed, or act by turns; to follow reciprocally in place or time; followed by with.

3. (intransitive) To vary by turns.

4. (transitive, geometry) To perform an alternation (removal of alternate vertices) on (a polytope or tessellation); to remove vertices (from a face or edge) as part of an alternation.

Translations

See also

• variant

Further reading

• alternate at OneLook Dictionary Search
• The Manual of Heraldry, Fifth Edition, by Anonymous, London, 1862, online at [2]
• alternate in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• alternate in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.
• Douglas Harper (2001–2021) , “alternate”, in Online Etymology Dictionary

Italian

Verb

alternate

1. second-person plural present indicative of alternare
2. second-person plural imperative of alternare
3. feminine plural of alternato

Adjective

alternate f

1. feminine plural of alternato

Anagrams

• alterante

Latin

Verb

altern?te

1. second-person plural present active imperative of altern?

English

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin decuss?tus from decuss?re (“to divide crosswise, arrange crosswise or mark with a cross”), from decussis (“a 10 asses coin”), from decem (“ten”) + as (“a Roman coin”). Based on the cross marking on the decussis coin.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /d??k?se?t/

Adjective

decussate (comparative more decussate, superlative most decussate)

1. Crossed; intersected; resembling a letter X.
2. (zoology) Having anatomical structures or markings crossing each other, typically in an X shape or at right angles.
3. (botany) Having opposite leaves arranged alternately at right angles.
4. (rhetoric) Consisting of two rising and two falling clauses, placed in alternate opposition to each other.

   a decussated period

Synonyms

• decussant

Derived terms

• decussately

Verb

decussate (third-person singular simple present decussates, present participle decussating, simple past and past participle decussated)

1. To form an X or to cross or intersect.

Related terms

• decussation
• decussative

Italian

Adjective

decussate

1. feminine plural of decussato

Latin

Verb

decuss?te

1. second-person plural present active imperative of decuss?