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Altern vs Astern - What's the difference?

altern | astern |

As adjectives the difference between altern and astern

is that altern is acting by turns; alternate while astern is (nautical) behind.

As an adverb astern is

(label) beyond the stern when viewed from aboard.

altern

English

Adjective

(-)
  • Acting by turns; alternate.
    • (Milton)

    Derived terms

    * altern base (Webster 1913) ----

    astern

    English

    Adverb

    (en adverb)
  • (label) Beyond the stern when viewed from aboard.
  • *{{quote-book, year=1944, author=(w)
    • , title= The Three Corpse Trick, chapter=5 , passage=The dinghy was trailing astern at the end of its painter, and Merrion looked at it as he passed. He saw that it was a battered-looking affair of the prahm type, with a blunt snout, and like the parent ship, had recently been painted a vivid green.}}

    Derived terms

    * astern of

    Antonyms

    * ahead

    Adjective

    (-)
  • (nautical) behind
  • * If one ship is following another, the first is astern when viewed from the second.

    • Usage notes

    * Within the ship, the corresponding adjective is abaft. An object nearer the stern than the mainmast is abaft the mainmast.

    Anagrams

    * *