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alter

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alter

 

  3  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Alter  \Al"ter\,  v.  t.  [imp.  &  p.  p.  {Altered};  p.  pr  &  vb  n. 
  {Altering}.]  [F.  alt['e]rer,  LL  alterare  fr  L.  alter 
  other  alius  other  Cf  {Else},  {Other}.] 
  1.  To  make  otherwise;  to  change  in  some  respect,  either 
  partially  or  wholly;  to  vary;  to  modify.  ``To  alter  the 
  king's  course.''  ``To  alter  the  condition  of  a  man.''  ``No 
  power  in  Venice  can  alter  a  decree.''  --Shak. 
 
  It  gilds  all  objects,  but  it  alters  none.  --Pope. 
 
  My  covenant  will  I  not  break,  nor  alter  the  thing 
  that  is  gone  out  of  my  lips.  --Ps.  lxxxix 
  34. 
 
  2.  To  agitate;  to  affect  mentally.  [Obs.]  --Milton. 
 
  3.  To  geld.  [Colloq.] 
 
  Syn:  {Change},  {Alter}. 
 
  Usage:  Change  is  generic  and  the  stronger  term.  It  may 
  express  a  loss  of  identity,  or  the  substitution  of  one 
  thing  in  place  of  another;  alter  commonly  expresses  a 
  partial  change,  or  a  change  in  form  or  details  without 
  destroying  identity. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Alter  \Al"ter\,  v.  i. 
  To  become  in  some  respects,  different;  to  vary;  to  change; 
  as  the  weather  alters  almost  daily;  rocks  or  minerals  alter 
  by  exposure.  ``The  law  of  the  Medes  and  Persians,  which 
  altereth  not.''  --Dan.  vi  8. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  alter 
  v  1:  cause  to  change;  make  different;  cause  a  transformation; 
  "The  advent  of  the  automobile  may  have  altered  the 
  growth  pattern  of  the  city";  "The  discussion  has  changed 
  my  thinking  about  the  issue"  [syn:  {change}]  [ant:  {leave}] 
  2:  make  or  become  different  in  some  particular  way  without 
  permanently  losing  one's  or  its  former  characteristics  or 
  essence;  "her  mood  changes  in  accordance  with  the 
  weather";  "Prices  vary  according  to  the  season"  [syn:  {change}, 
  {vary}] 
  3:  make  an  alteration  to  "This  dress  needs  to  be  altered" 
  4:  insert  words  into  texts  [syn:  {interpolate},  {falsify}] 
  5:  of  animals  [syn:  {spay},  {neuter}]




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