alternant
1 of 2adjective
al·ter·nant
ˈȯltə(r)nənt also ˈal-;
chiefly British ȯlˈtə̄n- also alˈt-
: alternating
alternant
2 of 2noun
"
plural -s
1
mathematics : a determinant the constituents of whose different rows are (in order) the same set of functions of different variables, the same variable appearing in each row and the same function in each column, the terms row and column here being interchangeable
2
: one of the statements in logic composing an alternation
3
: any of the nonsignificant variants (as an allomorph or allophone) that together constitute a significant linguistic category
Word History
Etymology
Adjective
Latin alternant-, alternans, present participle of alternare to alternate
First Known Use
Adjective
circa 1640, in the meaning defined above
Noun
1878, in the meaning defined at sense 1