alternative

The story

1. Proto-Indo-European*h₂el-
2. Proto-Indo-European*h₂élyos
3. Proto-Italic*aljos
4. Proto-Italic*aliteros
5. Latinalter
6. Latinalternus
7. Latinalternō
8. Latinalternātus
9. Latinalternātīvus
10. Middle Frenchalternatif
11. English todayalternative

From Middle French alternatif, from Medieval Latin alternātīvus (“alternating”), from the participle stem of Latin alternō (“interchange, alternate”). By surface analysis, alternate + -ive. Compare alternate.

Words from the same roots

First known use, by meaning

• from 17th c. A situation which allows a mutually exclusive choice between two or more possibilities; a choice between two or more possibilities.
• from 17th c. One of several mutually exclusive things which can be chosen.
• from 18th c. The remaining option; something available after other possibilities have been exhausted.