alternation 
2. Passage back and forth; repeated transition; 
the action of going from one state, condition, 
or point to another, and back again, indefinitely: 
as, alternation between states of mind or be- 
tween places ; his alternations from one point 
to the other were very frequent. 3. In math. : 
(a) The different changes or alterations of order 
in numbers. More commonly called permuta- 
tion, (b) Alternate proportion (which see, un- 
der alternate, a.). 4. In church ritual, the say- 
ing or reading of parts of a service by minister 
and congregation alternately Alternation of 
generation. Sec alternate generation, under alternate, a. 
alternative (al-ter'na-tiv), a. and n. [= P. 
alternative, n., alternatif, -ive, a., < ML. alterna- 
tives, < L. alternare, pp. alternatus : see alter- 
nate, a.] I. a. 1. Of two things, such that only 
one can be selected or only one is possible, 
etc. ; mutually exclusive. 
To arrive at the best compromise iu any case implies 
correct conceptions of the alternative results of this or 
that course. H. Spencer, Data of Ethics, 108. 
The conscience of mankind, and the voice alike of phi- 
losophy and of religion, reject with equal horror his [J. S. 
Mill's] alternative solution of the origin of evil, that the 
Creator of the world is either the author of evil or the 
slave of it. Edinburgh Rev. 
2. Affording a choice between two things, or 
a possibility of one thing out of two ; given or 
offered for selection, as against something else : 
as, an alternative proposition ; he presented an 
alternatif e statement. 3f. Alternate; recipro- 
cal. Holland. 4. In oot., having the parts of 
the inner whorl alternate with the outer: ap- 
plied to the estivation or arrangement of the 
parts of the perianth in the bud. Alternative 
demand, a request for either, but not both, of two things. 
Alternative judgment or inference, in logic, a judg- 
ment or inference which judges or infers that one or the 
other of two facts is true. Same as disjunctive judgment or 
inference. 
II. TO. 1. A choice between two things; a 
possibility of one of two things. 2. One of 
two things of which either is possible or may 
be chosen. In strictness the word cannot be applied 
to more than two things ; when one thing only is possible, 
there is said to be no alternative. 
Between these alternatives there is no middle ground. 
Cranch. 
The stages of mental assent and dissent are almost in- 
numerable ; but the alternatives of action proposed by 
the Christian faith are two only. 
Gladstone, Might of Right, p. 142. 
3. In the Bom. Cath. Ch., an arrangement by 
which the pope nominates to vacant benefices 
only in alternate months, at other times leav- 
ing the nomination to the bishop of the diocese 
or to the regular patron. The month counted 
is that in which the benefice becomes vacant. 
alternatively (al-ter'na-tiv-li), adv. In an al- 
ternative manner ; in a manner that admits the 
choice or possibility of one out of two things. 
alternativeness (al-ter'na-tiv-nes), n. The 
quality or state of being alternative. 
altermtyt (al-ter'ni-ti), n. [< ML. alternitas, 
< L. alternus, altern: see altern.] Succession 
by turns ; alternation. 
The alternitif and vicissitude of rest. 
Sir T. Browne, Vulg. Err., ill. 1. 
alternize (al'ter-niz), v. t. [< altern + -tee.] 
To cause to follow alternately; alternate. 
[Rare.] 
A tete-a-tete, alternized with a trio by my son. 
Mme. D'Arblay, Diary, VII. 355. 
Althaea (al-the'a), re. [L., < Or. cMaia, wild 
mallow, marsh-mallow ; perhaps related to ak- 
Baiveiv, heal, and to Skt. y ardh, thrive.] 1. A 
genus of plants, of the natural order Malva- 
ceae, including the hollyhock, A. rosea, and the 
marsh-mallow, A. officinalis. 2. [I.e.] A com- 
mon name of the Hibiscus Syriacus, cultivated 
iu gardens. Also called shrubby althaea and 
rose of Sharon. 
althein (al-the'in), 7i, [< Althasa + -int.] A 
white crystallizable substance, formula C^S S 
N 2 O3, contained in the root of the marsh-mal- 
low, AlthaM officinalis, and of asparagus: iden- 
tical with asparagiu (which see). 
althert, a. Same as alder 3 . 
Althing (al'ting), n. [Icel., formerly althingi, 
the general assembly, < allr, all, + thing, 
court : see all and thing.] The general assem- 
bly or parliament of Iceland. 
Althingman (al' ting-man), n. ; pi. Althingmen 
(-men). [< Althing + man.'] A member of the 
Althing or parliament of Iceland. 
alt-horn (alt'hdrn), re. [< alt + horn : see alt.] 
A musical instrument of the sax-horn class, 
often used in place of or with the French horn 
in military bands. 
11 ' 
161 
although (al-TH6'), conj. [ME. al though, al 
thah, etc.; < all, adv., in the sense of 'even,' 
+ though : see all, adv., and though. Cf. albe- 
it.] Admitting that ; in spite of the fact that ; 
notwithstanding (that) ; though. =Syn. Although, 
Though, Notwithstanding. Between although and though 
the choice is often determined by the rhythm. Notwith- 
standing lays more stress than the others upon the adver- 
sative idea implied in concessive clauses. 
Although I have cast them far off among the heathen, 
and although I have scattered them among the countries, 
yet will I be to them as a little sanctuary in the countries 
where they shall come. Ezek. xi. 16. 
A separable spite, 
Which though it alter not love's sole effect, 
Yet doth it steal sweet hours from love's delight. 
Shak., Sonnets, xxxvi. 
Come, come, Sir Peter, you love her, notwithstanding 
your tempers don't exactly agree. 
Sheridan, School for Scandal, i. 2. 
[This use of notwithstanding is commonly regarded as too 
elliptical; it is, therefore, not so common as formerly. 
See notwithstanding. ] 
Altica (al'ti-ka), n. See Haltica. 
alticomous (al-tik'o-mus), a. [< LL. alticomus, 
having leaves high up, or on the top, < L. altus, 
high, + coma, head of hair, foliage : see coma 1 . ] 
In hot., having leaves on the higher parts only. 
Si/d. Soc. Lex. 
altify (al'ti-fi), v. t. [< L. altus, high, + -fy. Cf . 
magnify.] To heighten ; raise aloft. [Rare.] 
Every country is given to magnify not to say altify 
their own things therein. Fuller, Worthies, I. 234. 
altiloquence (al-til'o-kwens), n. [< altiloquent; 
= Sp. altilocuencia = Pg.'altiloquencia.] Lofty 
speech; pompous language. 
altiloquent (al-til'o-kwent), a. [= Sp. altilo- 
cuente = ~Pg. altiloquente, < L. altus, high, + lo- 
qucn(t-)s, speaking, ppr. of loqui, speak. Cf. 
LL. altiloquus, in same sense.] High-sound- 
ing ; pompous in language. 
altimeter (al-tim'e-ter), . [= F. altimetre, < 
L. altus, high, + metrum, < Gr.usTpov, measure.] 
An instrument for measuring altitudes, as a 
quadrant, sextant, or theodolite. 
altimetry (al-tim'e-tri), ;. [< altimeter; = F. 
altimetrie. ] The art of ascertaining altitudes by 
means of an altimeter, and by trigonometrical 
methods. 
altin (al'tin), . [F. altine, < Russ. altuinu, a 
denomination of money. Cf . Bulg. altun, Serv. 
aldum, Turk, altin, gold.] A Russian money of 
account, equal to three copecks. 
Altinares (al-ti-na'rez), re. pi. [NL., < L. altus, 
high, deep, + nares, nostrils.] In Sundevall's 
system of ornithology : (a) A group of birds cor- 
responding to the family Corvidce of authors in 
general, and consisting of the crows, jays, and 
nut-crackers. (6) One of the two series into 
which he divides the cohort Coccyges, the other 
being Humilinares. See Zygodactyli. 
altincar (al-ting'kar), n. [< Ar. al-tinkdr, < al, 
the, + tinkdr, Pers. Hind, tinkdr, Malay tingkal, 
< Skt. tanlcana: see tincal.] Crude borax, em- 
ployed in refining metals; tincal (which see). 
altiscope (al'ti-skop), n. [< L. altus, high, + 
Gr. o-jcoireZv, look at : see scope.] An instrument 
consisting of an arrangement of lenses and mir- 
rors in a telescopic tube, extensible vertically, 
by means of which it is possible to look over ob- 
jects intervening between the observer and the 
object to be seen. When the sections of the tube are 
extended, the view is received upon an upper mirror placed 
at an angle of 45, and reflected thence down the tube to 
a lower mirror, where it is seen by the observer. 
altisonant (al-tis'o-nant), a. [< L. altus, high, 
+ sonan(t-)s, ppr. of sonare, sound: see sound.] 
High-sounding; lofty or pompous, as language : 
as, "altisonant phrases," Evelyn, Sylva (To the 
Reader). 
altisonous (al-tis'6-nus), a. [< L. altisonus, 
high-sounding, < altus, high, + sonare, sound: 
see sound 5 .] Same as altisonant. 
altissimo (al-tis'i-mo), a. [It., superl. of alto, 
high: see alt.] A musical term used in the 
phrase in altissimo, literally in the highest, that 
is, in the second octave above the treble staff, 
beginning with G. See alt. 
altitonant(al-tit'o-nant), a. [<L. altitonan(t-)s, 
< altus, high, + tohan(t-)s, ppr. of tpnare, thun- 
der. ] Thundering from on high ; high-thunder- 
ing. [Rare and poetical.] 
Altitonant, 
Imperial-crown'd, and thunder-armed Jove. 
Middleton, World Tost at Tennis. 
altitude (al'ti-tud), n. [< ME. altitude, < L. alti- 
tudo, height, < altus, high: see alt.] 1. Space 
extended up ward; height; the degree or amount 
of elevation of an object above its foundation, 
the ground, or a given level; the amount or 
Altrices 
distance by which one object is higher than an- 
other: as, the altitude of a mountain or a cloud. 
2. The elevation of a point, star, or other 
object above the horizon, measured by the 
arc of a vertical intercepted between such point 
and the horizon. Altitude is either apparent or true. 
Apparent altitude is that which appears by observations 
made at any place on thu surface of the earth ; true alti- 
tude, that which results by correcting the apparent for 
refraction, parallax, and dip of the horizon. [The words 
altitude and elevation in geodesy are somewhat confused, 
but it is preferable to use altitude for angular height, ele- 
vation for linear height.) Often abbreviated to alt. 
From hennes-forthward, r wol clepe the heyhte of any 
thing that is taken by thy rewle [an astrolabe], the alti- 
tude, with-owte mo wordes. Chaucer, Astrolabe. 
3. An elevation or height ; anything extending 
far upward. 
The altitudes which are surmounted only for the charms 
of outlook they offer. D. Q. Mitchell, Bound Together. 
4. Highest point or degree ; full elevation. 
He did it to please his mother, and to be partly proud ; 
which he is, even to the altitude of his virtue. 
Shak., Cor., i. 1. 
5. Elevation of spirit; haughty air: in this 
sense generally used in the plural. [Archaic.] 
From the nature of their conversation, there was no 
room for altitudes. Richard/tun, Clarissa Harlowe.V. 232. 
If we would see him in his altitudes, we must go back 
to the House of Commons ; . . . there he cuts and slashes 
at another rate. Roger North, Exameu, p. 258. 
Accessible altitude, the altitude of an object to the 
base of which one can have access, so as to measure the 
distance between it and the station from which the alti- 
tude is to be measured. Altitude and azimuth circle. 
See circle. Altitude or elevation of the pole, the arc 
of the meridian intercepted between the pole and the 
horizon. It is equal to the latitude of the place. Circle 
or parallel of altitude. See aimucantar. Inacces- 
sible altitude, the altitude of an object whose base can- 
not be approached. Meridian altitude of a star, an 
arc of the meridian between the horizon and a star on the 
meridian. Parallax of altitude. See parallax. Re- 
fraction of altitude, an arc of a vertical circle, by which 
the true altitude of a heavenly body is in appearance in- 
creased, on account of refraction. 
altitudinal (al-ti-tu'di-nal), a. [< L. altitudo 
(altitudin-) + -al: see altitude.] Relating or 
pertaining to height; in nat. hist., having refer- 
ence to elevation above the sea-level: as, an 
altitudinal zone of vegetation. See zone. 
Two ferns, a species of Gleichenia and the broad-fronded 
Dipteris horsfteldi here at its lowest altitudinal limit 
profusely covered the ground. 
//. 0. Forbes, Eastern Archipelago, p. 78. 
altitudinarian (al"ti-tu-di-na'ri-an), a. and n. 
'. L. altitudo (altitudin-), altitude : see altitude.] 
a. Aspiring. Coleridge. [Rare.] 
II. n. One who aspires; one given to lofti- 
ness in thought or speech, 
altivolant (al-tiv'o-lant), a. [< L. altivolan(t-)s 
(cf . equiv. altivolus, high-flying), < altus, high, + 
volare, ppr. volan(t-)s, fly: see volant.] High- 
flying. 
alto (al'to), a. and n. [It., high: see alt.] I. 
a. Literally, high : an element in terms relating 
to music and art: as, alto-ripieno, alto-rilievo. 
Alto clef, alto fagotto, alto viola, etc. See the nouns. 
II. H. [So called from being higher than the 
tenor, to which in old music the melody was 
assigned.] In music: (a) Same as contralto, 
(b) The instrument called in England the tenor 
violin, and by the Italians the viola. 
altogether (al-to-geTH'er), adv. [< ME. alto- 
gedere, altogidere, etc., < al, adv., all, + logedere, 
together: see all, adv., and together.] Wholly; 
entirely; completely; quite. 
Every man at his best state is altogether vanity. 
Ps. xxxix. 5. 
He [Temple] began to make preparations for retiring al- 
together from business. Macaulay, Sir William Temple. 
alto-relievo (al"to-re-le'vo), n. An Anglicized 
form of alto-rilievo. 
alto-rilievo (al"t6-re-lya'vo), n. [It.: alto, 
high (see alt); rilievo, relief : see relief.] High 
relief; in sculp., a form of relief in which the 
figures or other objects represented stand out 
very boldly from the background. More or less 
important portions of the design may even be carved en- 
tirely in the round. An alto-rttievo, or a work in alto- 
rilievo, is a relief sculptured in this form. See cut on next 
page. See bas-relief and mezzo-rilievo. 
Altrices (al-tri'sez), re. pi. [NL., pi. of L. altrix, 
fern, of altor, a nourisher, nurse, < alere, nour- 
ish: see aliment, n.] In ornith., one of the pri- 
mary divisions of the class Axes, or birds. In 
some systems, as that of Bonaparte, it includes those birds 
which are hatched in a weak and usually naked condition, 
and require to be fed for some time in the nest by the pa- 
rents : opposed to Pntcoces, or those birds which run about 
as soon as they are hatched. Not in use aa the name of a 
subclass of A i>es, but recognized as a collective term for 
birds having the above-given characters, as nearly all land- 
birds, and some water-birds, as the Herodionex and Stegano- 
podes. Nearly equivalent to Sundevall's term Psilopcedes 
or Qymnopttdes. Also called Heterophagi. 
