Al"ter (?),v. t. [imp. & p.p.Altered (?);p. pr. & vb. n.Altering.] [F.altérer, LL.alterare, fr. L.alter other,alius other. Cf.Else,Other.]1.To make otherwise; to change in some respect,either partially or wholly; to vary; to modify. "Toalter theking's course." "Toalter the condition of a man." "No power inVenice canalter a decree."Shak.

It gilds all objects, but italters none.
Pope.

My covenant will I not break, noralter the thingthat is gone out of my lips.
Ps. lxxxix. 34.

2.To agitate; to affect mentally. [Obs.]Milton.

3.To geld. [Colloq.]

Syn. --Change,Alter.Change is genericand the stronger term. It may express a loss of identity, or thesubstitution of one thing in place of another;alter commonlyexpresses a partial change, or a change in form or details withoutdestroying identity.

Al"ter,v. i.To become, in somerespects, different; to vary; to change; as, the weatheraltersalmost daily; rocks or mineralsalter by exposure. "The law ofthe Medes and Persians, whichaltereth not."Dan. vi. 8.