in a general sense, a term applied to such persons or things as succeed each other by turns. Thus, two who command each his day, are said to have an alternate command, or to command alternately.

in heraldry, is said in respect of the situation of the quarters.

Thus the first and fourth quarters, and the second and third, are usually of the same nature, and are called alternate quarters.

in botany, when the leaves or branches of plants arise higher on opposite sides alternately.

ALTERNATE angles. See GEOMETRY.

ALTERNATE ratio. See ALGEBRA, and ARITHMETIC.