in an alternative way / (conjunctive) Used to link a pair of possibilities

The state of being alternative or representing alternatives.

plural of alternative

A characteristic of something having alternative connotations, akin to the representation of choice between two or more possibilities.

simple past tense and past participle of alternate

plural of alternant

(linguistics) An alternate form or allomorph. / (mathematics) A determinant which is an alternating function.

Alternating from one row of a matrix to another. / (geology) Composed of alternate layers, like certain rocks.

Alternation.

(obsolete) Acting by turns; alternate.