ppl. a. and sb. [a. Fr. alternant, pr. pple. of alterner, ad. L. alternāre to ALTERNATE.] A. adj.
1. Alternating, changing from one to the other.
a. 1640. Jackson, Creed, X. xlii. Wks. IX. 492. Whatsoever is mutably good, or mutably evil … hath its alternant motions from God’s decree.
2. Min. Consisting of alternating layers or laminæ.
1847. in Craig.
B. sb. An alternating quantity.
1882. Academy, 21 Oct., 298/2. Chap. iii. … gives in a concise form an account of continuants, alternants, symmetric determinants [etc.].
