alterative

The story

1. Latin · learned borrowing fromalterativum
2. English todayalterative

From Latin alterativum, noun use of alterativus.

First known use, by meaning

• from 14th c. A medicine or treatment which works by changing processes within the body, rather than by evacuating something etc.
• from 15th c. Gradually changing, or tending to change, a morbid state into a healthy one.