1. The act of altering or making different. Alteration, though it be from worse to better, hath in it incoveniences. Hooker.
2. The state of being altered; a change made in the form or nature of a thing; changed condition. Ere long might perceive Strange alteration in me. Milton. Appius Claudius admitted to the senate the sons of those who had been slaves; by which, and succeeding alterations, that council degenerated into a most corrupt. Swift.
ALTERATIVE
Al"ter*a*tive, a. Etym: [L. alterativus: cf. F. altératif.]
Defn: Causing ateration. Specifically:
Defn: Gradually changing, or tending to change, a morbid state of the functions into one of health. Burton.
ALTERATIVE
Al"ter*a*tive, n.
Defn: A medicine or treatment which gradually induces a change, and restores healthy functions without sensible evacuations.
ALTERCATE
Al"ter*cate, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Altercated; p. pr. & vb. n.
Altercating.] Etym: [L. altercatus, p. p. of altercare, altercari,
fr. alter another. See Alter.]
Defn: The contend in words; to dispute with zeal, heat, or anger; to wrangle.
ALTERCATION
Al`ter*ca"tion, n. Etym: [F. altercation, fr. L. altercatio.]