alter

Reading level: hard

Estimated CEFR level: B1 — Intermediate

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. verb cause to change; make different; cause a transformation
  2. verb become different in some particular way, without permanently losing one's or its former characteristics or essence
  3. verb make an alteration to

Etymology

From Old French alterer (French altérer), from Medieval Latin alterāre (“to make other”), from Latin alter (“the other”), from al- (seen in alius (“other”), alienus (“of another”), etc.; see alias, alien, etc.) + compar. suffix -ter.

In classic literature

Synonyms

change, modify

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