alterative

  • 1Alterative — Al ter*a*tive, a. [L. alterativus: cf. F. alt[ e]ratif.] Causing ateration. Specifically: Gradually changing, or tending to change, a morbid state of the functions into one of health. Burton. [1913 Webster] …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 2Alterative — Al ter*a*tive, n. A medicine or treatment which gradually induces a change, and restores healthy functions without sensible evacuations. [1913 Webster] …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 3alterative — index ambulatory, corrigible, remedial Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …

    Law dictionary

  • 4alterative — [ôl′tər āt΄iv, ôl′tər ə tiv] adj. [ME & OFr alteratif < ML alterativus: see ALTER] causing or tending to cause alteration …

    English World dictionary

  • 5alterative —    A term applied in naturopathic, Eclectic, and Thomsonian medicine to those plants or procedures that stimulate changes of a defensive or healing nature in metabolism or tissue function when there is chronic or acute diseases. The whole concept …

    Herbal-medical glossary

  • 6alterative — /awl teuh ray tiv, teuhr euh tiv/, adj. 1. tending to alter. 2. Med. Obs. gradually restoring healthy bodily functions. n. 3. Med. Obs. an alterative remedy. [1350 1400; ME < ML alterativus. See ALTER, ATIVE] * * * …

    Universalium

  • 7alterative — al·ter·ative ȯl tə .rāt iv, rət n a drug used empirically to alter favorably the course of an ailment alterative adj causing alteration …

    Medical dictionary

  • 8alterative — adj. & n. adj. 1 tending to alter. 2 (of a medicine) that alters bodily processes. n. an alterative medicine or treatment. Etymology: ME f. med.L alterativus (as ALTER) …

    Useful english dictionary

  • 9alterative — 1. adjective /ˈɒl.tə(ɹ).ə.tɪv,ˈɔl.tɚˌaɪ.tɪv,ˈɔl.tɚ.ə.tɪv/ Causing alteration. Specifically: Gradually changing, or tending to change, a morbid state of the functions into one of health. Burton. 2. noun /ˈɒl.tə(ɹ).ə.tɪv,ˈɔl.tɚˌaɪ.tɪv,ˈɔl.tɚ.ə.tɪv/ …

    Wiktionary

  • 10Alterative — A substance used empirically to alter the course of a disease favourably. Calotropis, Centella, Erechtites, Guaiacum, Lepidium, Musa, Phytolacca, Portulaca, Rumex, Solanum, Thespesia, Tragia …

    EthnoBotanical Dictionary