alternis

Forms

alternīs (not comparable)^[1]

Etymology

It is the ablative plural of alternus (“alternate”), used as an adverb;^[2][1][3] alternus is made from alter (“the other of two”).^[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

The OLD's earliest example is in Lucretius, of matter separated from void in alternation.^[2][5]

Semantic evolution

It means in alternate places or one after the other by turns: Varro says that bees sleep and work by turns.^[2][5] It is also used of alternate days or years, as when Livy explains that the two consuls held command on alternate days.^[2][3] Vitruvius, Seneca and Pliny the Younger use alternīs … alternīs for “now … now”.^[3]

Timeline

• 96–55 BC – Lucretius of matter and void in alternation.^[2][4]
• 116–27 BC – Varro of bees sleeping and working by turns.^[2][4]
• 59 BC–17 AD – Livy of consuls commanding on alternate days.^[2][4]

Meanings

Adverb

1. In alternate positions, alternately.^[2][1]
2. By turns, one after the other.^[2][1][3]
3. On alternate days; in alternate years or seasons.^[2]
4. alternīs … alternīs, now … now.^[3]

Related words

• alternus
• alter

References

1. ^ a b c d Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
3. ^ a b c d e Gaffiot, Félix (2016), Dictionnaire latin-français, new ed. by Gérard Gréco et al. (Gaffiot 2016), online ed.
4. ^ a b c d Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de
5. ^ a b Conte, Gian Biagio; Pianezzola, Emilio; Ranucci, Giuliano (2010), il Latino: Vocabolario della lingua latina, 3rd ed., Florence: Le Monnier