Etymologically
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alternis

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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]

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