# ALTER (Is this an English word of Greek origin ???) **URL:** \ **Category:** Learning Greek\ **Created:** [May 17, 2008, 8:14pm UTC](https://www.textkit.com/t/alter-is-this-an-english-word-of-greek-origin/7571 "2008-05-17T20:14:12Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Neos](https://www.textkit.com/user_avatar/www.textkit.com/neos/32/37_2.png) [@Neos](https://www.textkit.com/u/Neos)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2008, 8:14pm UTC](https://www.textkit.com/t/alter-is-this-an-english-word-of-greek-origin/7571/1 "2008-05-17T20:14:12Z")
Some people say that _ **alter** _ derives from _ **αλλότε??ος** _ (allotterοs ), which is the Aeolic form of **_αλλότ?ιος_** (allotrios ) [foreign, different, one as different from another]. See: [http://ewonago.blogspot.com/](http://ewonago.blogspot.com/) Some other say that _ **alter** _ is a combination of the Greek words _ **άλλος + έτε?ος** _ (allos+eteros) (other, different, oposite). Finally, others say that _ **alter** _ is just the Latin word _ **alter** _. Is there another theory? What do you think? ---
**Author:** ![annis](https://www.textkit.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/6bbea6/32.png) [@annis](https://www.textkit.com/u/annis)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2008, 10:13pm UTC](https://www.textkit.com/t/alter-is-this-an-english-word-of-greek-origin/7571/2 "2008-05-17T22:13:29Z")
The best authority for these questions is the OED: **a. 14th c. Fr. altére-r (Pr. or It. alterar) ad. med.L. altera-re, f. alter other.** So it’s from a late Latin verb built upon _alter_. As with so much Latinate vocabulary in English, this word got filtered through French first. ---
**Author:** ![Lucus\_Eques](https://www.textkit.com/user_avatar/www.textkit.com/lucus_eques/32/13_2.png) [@Lucus\_Eques](https://www.textkit.com/u/Lucus_Eques)\ **Post date:** [May 17, 2008, 10:18pm UTC](https://www.textkit.com/t/alter-is-this-an-english-word-of-greek-origin/7571/3 "2008-05-17T22:18:18Z")
Neos, I appreciate that you have given consideration to my critique. This is good. Open mindness is extremely important. I would like you to consider something else: what is the _source_ for these interpretations of etymology? You say here that, perhaps there is one of two direct Greek origins for “alter,” for example, or a Latin origin. I insist (as I believe will the majority insist) that the Latin origin is the correct one. How do I know this? It is the source of my understanding. I can cite this reference from Webster (and countless others, including Latin dictionaries) that demonstrate the origin of “alter” : \*\*\* [http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/alter](http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/alter) Main entry: al·ter Pronunciation: \ˈȯl-tÉ™r Function: verb Inflected Form(s): al·tered; al·ter·ing -t(É™-)riÅ‹ **Etymology: Middle English, from Medieval Latin alterare, from Latin alter other (of two); akin to Latin alius other — more at else** Date: 14th century transitive verb 1 : to make different without changing into something else 2 : castrate, spay intransitive verb : to become different * * * This source and others confirm my “theory.” What references (published, mind you, and formal) confirm your theory? ---
**Author:** ![Neos](https://www.textkit.com/user_avatar/www.textkit.com/neos/32/37_2.png) [@Neos](https://www.textkit.com/u/Neos)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2008, 8:59am UTC](https://www.textkit.com/t/alter-is-this-an-english-word-of-greek-origin/7571/4 "2008-05-18T08:59:15Z")
Thank you for your constructive comments and your polite manners. Best regard John Neos ---
**Author:** ![IreneY](https://www.textkit.com/user_avatar/www.textkit.com/ireney/32/23_2.png) [@IreneY](https://www.textkit.com/u/IreneY)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2008, 10:07pm UTC](https://www.textkit.com/t/alter-is-this-an-english-word-of-greek-origin/7571/5 "2008-05-18T22:07:36Z")
I am sorry but I can’t be polite to someone who makes a mockery of linguistics, shames Greeks and tells the world that there were people who had no word for i.e. “milk” until they got it from the Greeks I suppose. Or changed the word they had and adopted a word derived from the Greek. ---
**Author:** ![Amadeus](https://www.textkit.com/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/a/d26b3c/32.png) [@Amadeus](https://www.textkit.com/u/Amadeus)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2008, 3:54am UTC](https://www.textkit.com/t/alter-is-this-an-english-word-of-greek-origin/7571/6 "2008-05-19T03:54:45Z")
> [@IreneY](#): > > I am sorry but I can’t be polite Sure you can! 🙂 You just have to try a little harder! lol Remember the old saying about the flies and the honey and vinegar? ---
**Author:** ![IreneY](https://www.textkit.com/user_avatar/www.textkit.com/ireney/32/23_2.png) [@IreneY](https://www.textkit.com/u/IreneY)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2008, 5:44pm UTC](https://www.textkit.com/t/alter-is-this-an-english-word-of-greek-origin/7571/7 "2008-05-19T17:44:55Z")
Doesn’t really work in this case and, in any case, I really can’t. I lost my patience with such people long ago you see. It’s sad. ---
**Author:** ![Lucus\_Eques](https://www.textkit.com/user_avatar/www.textkit.com/lucus_eques/32/13_2.png) [@Lucus\_Eques](https://www.textkit.com/u/Lucus_Eques)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2008, 11:34pm UTC](https://www.textkit.com/t/alter-is-this-an-english-word-of-greek-origin/7571/8 "2008-05-19T23:34:34Z")
Actually, Irene, I think he might have been genuinely thanking me for being polite. I hope I was polite anyway. 🙂 It wasn’t a sarcastic jibe at you, I don’t think.