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alterative

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alterative

  • /ˈɒl.tɹə.tɪv/ UK
  • /ˈɒl.tə.ɹə.tɪv/ UK
  • /ˈɔl.tɚˌaɪ.tɪv/ US
  • /ˈɔl.tɚ.ə.tɪv/ US

Where it comes from

From Latin alterativum, noun use of alterativus.

noun alteratives

  1. historical A medicine or treatment which works by changing processes within the body, rather than by evacuating something etc. Amongst this number of cordials and alteratives I do not find a more present remedy than a cup of wine or strong drink, if it be soberly and opportunely used.

adjective more alterative · most alterative

  1. Causing alteration.
  2. Gradually changing, or tending to change, a morbid state into a healthy one.

Translations

Every language

adj causing alteration

Portuguêsalterativo, alterante, alterador
Françaisaltérateur
Italianoalterativo

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Cite this
MLA

"alterative." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/alterative. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

APA

alterative. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/alterative

Chicago

"alterative." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/alterative.

BibTeX
@misc{alterative_2026,
  title = {alterative},
  howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://micwyn.com/word/alterative},
  urldate = {2026-11-06}
}