alternative
/ɔːlˈtɜːnətɪv/awl-TUR-nuh-tiv
/ɔlˈtɝnətɪv/awl-TUR-nuh-tiv
Meaningoffering a choice between things
Common meaning: another option
Other meanings: different from the usual
- alternthe other of twoLewis & Short, Latin Dictionary (1879), p. 97 · scan
- atverb or adjective ending: to make, having
- iveadjective ending: tending to
Journey through time
- Latinalter‘the other of two’
- Englishalternate‘to take turns’
- Englishformed in English from alternatealternative‘another option’ · today
Sources & notes
Meaning: “Meaning” is the sense that emerges from the word’s roots; “Common meaning” is today’s everyday sense. Both written by us.
Pronunciation
- UK IPA: converted from the US form by rule (unchecked). Respelling: generated.
- No UK recording; the speaker uses your device’s en-GB voice.
- US IPA: CMUdict (BSD-2), converted to IPA by rule. Respelling: generated.
- No US recording; the speaker uses your device’s en-US voice.
Origin: Formed in English from alternate + -ive.
Dictionary: Skeat (1898), ALTERNATE, p.19 · scan
Roots
- alter Latin “the other of two”
Building blocks are an automatic split · open in app