[al.ter] vb al.tered ; al.ter.ing [ME, fr. MF alterer, fr. ML alterare, fr. L alter other (of two); akin to L alius other--more at else] vt (14c) 1: to make different without changing into something else
2: castrate, spay ~ vi: to become different syn see change -- al.ter.abil.i.ty n -- al.ter.able adj -- al.ter.ably adv -- al.ter.er n