ȧlternȧ noun
( plural alternats -nȧ(z))
Etymology: French, literally, alternation, probably from New Latin alternatus, from Latin alternatus, past participle of alternare
: the practice among diplomats of regulating precedence among powers of equal rank by lot or in a certain regular order ; especially : the practice in the signing of treaties and conventions of giving each power the copy on which it appears at the head of the list of signatories