a. and sb. [f. late L. alterāt- ppl. stem of alterāre to ALTER, as if ad. L. *alterātīvus prob. used in med. or mod.L. Cf. Fr. altératif, -ive.] A. adj.
1. Having the tendency to produce alteration; esp. applied to medicines that alter the processes of nutrition, and reduce them to healthy action.
1605. Bacon, Adv. Learn., II. x. § 5 (1873), 138. Cannot be removed by medicine alterative.
1621. Burton, Anat. Mel., II. iv. I. ii. Simples are alterative or purgative.
1775. Johnson, in Boswell, xlix. (1847), 451. My opinion of alterative medicine is not high, but quid tentasse nocebit?
1855. Garrod, Mat. Med. (ed. 6), 23. Iodine has a powerful alterative action.
† 2. passively, Liable to be changed. Obs.
1656. Blount, Glossogr., Alterative, changed, or that may be changed.
B. sb. An alterative medicine or treatment.
1398. Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., VII. xxi. (1495), 239. The cure is with hote alteratiues.
1621. Burton, Anat. Mel., II. iv. I. i. Of alteratiues and Cordials, no man doubts.
1720. Gibson, Dispens., App. I. i. (1734), 47. Alteratives … have a power of changing the Constitution, without any sensible increase or decrease of the natural evacuations.
1807. Crabbe, Libr., 59. Here alt’ratives, by slow degrees controul The chronic habits of the sickly soul.
1878. H. S. Wilson, Alpine Ascents, ii. 29. Alterative and excitement are best got in Switzerland.
