Etymology
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altercate (v.)

"to contend with words," 1520s, a back-formation from altercation, or else from Latin altercatus, past participle of altercari "to dispute (with another)," from alter "the other" (see alter).

Entries linking to altercate

alter (v.)

late 14c., "to change (something), make different in some way," from Old French alterer "to change, alter," from Medieval Latin alterare "to change," from Latin alter "the other (of the two)," from PIE root *al- (1) "beyond" + comparative suffix -ter (as in other). Intransitive sense "to become otherwise" first recorded 1580s. Related: Altered; altering.

updated on August 13, 2018

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Dictionary entries near altercate

altar

alter

alter ego

alterable

alteration

altercate

altercation

alternate

alternately

alternating

alternation

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