n. Alternateness; alternation. [ R. ] Mitford. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. alternans, p. pr.: cf. F. alternant. See Alternate, v. t. ] (Geol.) Composed of alternate layers, as some rocks. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ F. ] A usage, among diplomats, of rotation in precedence among representatives of equal rank, sometimes determined by lot and at other times in regular order. The practice obtains in the signing of treaties and conventions between nations. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

a. [ L. alternatus, p. p. of alternate, fr. alternus. See Altern, Alter. ] 1. Being or succeeding by turns; one following the other in succession of time or place; by turns first one and then the other; hence, reciprocal. [ 1913 Webster ]

And bid alternate passions fall and rise. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Designating the members in a series, which regularly intervene between the members of another series, as the odd or even numbers of the numerals; every other; every second; as, the alternate members 1, 3, 5, 7, etc. ; read every alternate line. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Bot.) Distributed, as leaves, singly at different heights of the stem, and at equal intervals as respects angular divergence. Gray. [ 1913 Webster ]

Alternate alligation. See Alligation. --
Alternate angles (Geom.), the internal and angles made by two lines with a third, on opposite sides of it. It the parallels AB, CD, are cut by the line EF, the angles AGH, GHD, as also the angles BGH and GHC, are called alternate angles. --
Alternate generation. (Biol.) See under Generation. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. That which alternates with something else; vicissitude. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Grateful alternates of substantial. Prior. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A substitute; one designated to take the place of another, if necessary, in performing some duty. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Math.) A proportion derived from another proportion by interchanging the means. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Alternated; p. pr. & vb. n. Alternating. ] [ L. alternatus, p. p. of alternare. See Altern. ] To perform by turns, or in succession; to cause to succeed by turns; to interchange regularly. [ 1913 Webster ]

The most high God, in all things appertaining unto this life, for sundry wise ends alternates the disposition of good and evil. Grew. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. 1. To happen, succeed, or act by turns; to follow reciprocally in place or time; -- followed by with; as, the flood and ebb tides alternate with each other. [ 1913 Webster ]

Rage, shame, and grief alternate in his breast. J. Philips. [ 1913 Webster ]

Different species alternating with each other. Kirwan. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To vary by turns; as, the land alternates between rocky hills and sandy plains. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. 1. In reciprocal succession; succeeding by turns; in alternate order. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Math.) By alternation; when, in a proportion, the antecedent term is compared with antecedent, and consequent. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The quality of being alternate, or of following by turns. [ 1913 Webster ]

. (Elec.) A current which periodically changes or reverses its direction of flow, especially an electric current that reverses direction sinusoidally, as is used for most domestic and industrial power requirements. Contrasted with direct curent.
Syn. -- AC [ Webster 1913 Suppl. +PJC ]

The common household current is alternating. Alternating current is easier than direct current to transform to high voltage and back, making long-distance transmission more efficient. [ PJC ]

n. [ L. alternatio: cf. F. alternation. ] 1. The reciprocal succession of things in time or place; the act of following and being followed by turns; alternate succession, performance, or occurrence; as, the alternation of day and night, cold and heat, summer and winter, hope and fear. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Math.) Permutation. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. The response of the congregation speaking alternately with the minister. Mason. [ 1913 Webster ]

Alternation of generation. See under Generation. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cf. F. alternatif. ] 1. Offering a choice of two things. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Disjunctive; as, an alternative conjunction. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Alternate; reciprocal. [ Obs. ] Holland. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. alternative, LL. alternativa. ] 1. An offer of two things, one of which may be chosen, but not both; a choice between two things, so that if one is taken, the other must be left. [ 1913 Webster ]

There is something else than the mere alternative of absolute destruction or unreformed existence. Burke. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Either of two things or propositions offered to one's choice. Thus when two things offer a choice of one only, the two things are called alternatives. [ 1913 Webster ]

Having to choose between two alternatives, safety and war, you obstinately prefer the worse. Jowett (Thucyd.). [ 1913 Webster ]

3. The course of action or the thing offered in place of another. [ 1913 Webster ]

If this demand is refused the alternative is war. Lewis. [ 1913 Webster ]

With no alternative but death. Longfellow. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. A choice between more than two things; one of several things offered to choose among. [ 1913 Webster ]

My decided preference is for the fourth and last of these alternatives. Gladstone. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In the manner of alternatives, or that admits the choice of one out of two things. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The quality of being alternative, or of offering a choice between two. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Elec.) An electric generator or dynamo for producing alternating currents. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

a. [ Pref. a- not + sternal. ] (Anat.) Not sternal; -- said of ribs which do not join the sternum. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. Of or pertaining to Avernus, a lake of Campania, in Italy, famous for its poisonous vapors, which ancient writers fancied were so malignant as to kill birds flying over it. It was represented by the poets to be connected with the infernal regions. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. See Barnacle. [ 1913 Webster ]

(Zool.) A Brazilian dipterous insect of the genus Trypeta, which lays its eggs in the nostrils or in wounds of man and beast, where the larvæ do great injury. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Of or pertaining to St. Bernard of Clairvaux, or to the Cistercian monks. -- n. A Cistercian monk. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Pref. bi- + ternate. ] (Bot.) Doubly ternate, as when a petiole has three ternate leaflets. -- Bi*ter"nate*ly, adv. Gray. [1913 Webster]

a. Equally eternal. -- Co`e*ter"nal*ly, adv. [1913 Webster]

Hail, holy Light, offspring of Heaven first born!
Or of the Eternal coeternal beam. Milton. [1913 Webster]

v. t. to cause to be confused; confuse emotionally; to dismay.
Syn. -- confuse, flurry, disconcert, put off, bewilder, bemuse, discombobulate, throw. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. [ L. consternatio, fr. consternare to overome, perplex, an accessory form of consternere to throw down, prostrate; con + sternere to spread out, throw down: cf. F. consternation. See Stratum. ] Amazement or horror that confounds the faculties, and incapacitates for reflection; terror, combined with amazement; dismay. [ 1913 Webster ]

The chiefs around,
In silence wrapped, in consternation drowned.
Attend the stern reply. Pope.

Syn. -- Alarm; fright; amazement; astonishment; surprise; panic; perturbation. See Alarm. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ , a. [ L. contubernalis a tent companion, fr. contubernium tent companionship. ] Living or messing together; familiar; in companionship. [ 1913 Webster ]

Humble folk ben Christes friends: they ben contubernial with the Lord, thy King. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Contrary to nature. [ R. ] Harvey. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Discernment. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Anat. & Zoöl.) Of or pertaining to the episternum. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ F. éternel, L. aeternalis, fr. aeternus. See Etern. ] 1. Without beginning or end of existence; always existing. [ 1913 Webster ]

The eternal God is thy refuge. Deut. xxxiii. 27. [ 1913 Webster ]

To know wether there were any real being, whose duration has been eternal. Locke. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Without end of existence or duration; everlasting; endless; immortal. [ 1913 Webster ]

That they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory. 2 Tim. ii. 10. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Continued without intermission; perpetual; ceaseless; constant. [ 1913 Webster ]

And fires eternal in thy temple shine. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Existing at all times without change; immutable. [ 1913 Webster ]

Hobbes believed the eternal truths which he opposed. Dryden. [ 1913 Webster ]

What are the eternal objects of poetry among all nations, and at all times? M. Arnold. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. Exceedingly great or bad; -- used as a strong intensive. “Some eternal villain.” [ 1913 Webster ]

The Eternal City, an appellation of Rome.

Syn. -- Everlasting; endless; infinite; ceaseless; perpetual; interminable. See Everlasting. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. One of the appellations of God. [ 1913 Webster ]

Law whereby the Eternal himself doth work. Hooker. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. That which is endless and immortal. Young. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who holds the existence of matter to be from eternity. T. Burnet. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To make eternal. Shelton. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In an eternal manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

That which is morally good or evil at any time or in any case, must be also eternally and unchangeably so. South. [ 1913 Webster ]

Where western gales eternally reside. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. eviternus, aeternus. See Etern. ] Eternal; everlasting. [ Obs. ] -- Ev`i*ter"nal*ly, adv. Bp. Hall. [1913 Webster]

a. [ L. externus, fr. exter, exterus, on the outside, outward. See Exterior. ] 1. Outward; exterior; relating to the outside, as of a body; being without; acting from without; -- opposed to internal; as, the external form or surface of a body. [ 1913 Webster ]

Of all external things, . . .
She [ Fancy ] forms imaginations, aery shapes. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Outside of or separate from ourselves; (Metaph.) separate from the perceiving mind. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Outwardly perceptible; visible; physical or corporeal, as distinguished from mental or moral. [ 1913 Webster ]

Her virtues graced with external gifts. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Not intrinsic nor essential; accidental; accompanying; superficial. [ 1913 Webster ]

The external circumstances are greatly different. Trench. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. Foreign; relating to or connected with foreign nations; as, external trade or commerce; the external relations of a state or kingdom. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. (Anat.) Away from the mesial plane of the body; lateral. [ 1913 Webster ]

External angles. (Geom.) See under Angle. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Something external or without; outward part; that which makes a show, rather than that which is intrinsic; visible form; -- usually in the plural. [ 1913 Webster ]

Adam was then no less glorious in his externals South. [ 1913 Webster ]

God in externals could not place content. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. embodying in an outward form.
Syn. -- externalization, exteriorization, exteriorisation. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

v. to make external.
Syn. -- exteriorize, externalize. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

pos>n. 1. The quality of being manifest to the senses; external acts or appearances; regard for externals. [ 1913 Webster ]

This externalism gave Catholicism a great advantage on all sides. E. Eggleston. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Metaph.) That philosophy or doctrine which recognizes or deals only with externals, or objects of sense perception; positivism; phenomenalism. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Pertaining to externalism. North Am. Rev. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. State of being external; exteriority; (Metaph.) separation from the perceiving mind. [ 1913 Webster ]

Pressure or resistance necessarily supposes externality in the thing which presses or resists. A. Smith. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. attributing to outside causes. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

2. embodying in an outward form.
Syn. -- externalisation, exteriorization, exteriorisation. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

v. t. To make external; to manifest by outward form. [ 1913 Webster ]

Thought externalizes itself in language. Soyce. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. In an external manner; outwardly; on the outside; in appearance; visibly. [ 1913 Webster ]

a.[ F. fraternel, LL. fraternalis, fr. L. fraternus, fr. frater brother. See Brother. ] Of, pertaining to, or involving, brethren; becoming to brothers; brotherly; as, fraternal affection; a fraternal embrace. -- Fra*ter"nal*ly, adv. [1913 Webster]

An abhorred, a cursed, a fraternal war. Milton. [1913 Webster]

Fraternal love and friendship. Addison. [1913 Webster]

v. i. To fraternize; to hold fellowship. Jefferson.

{ , n. Fraternization. [ R. ] Jefferson. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Governableness. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cf. F. gouvernable. ] Capable of being governed, or subjected to authority; controllable; manageable; obedient. Locke. [ 1913 Webster ]