Alterada

Alterada is the feminine singular form of the Portuguese adjective alterado, which means changed, modified, or altered. It is used to describe nouns that have undergone some change or modification and agrees in gender with feminine nouns (e.g., uma versão alterada, uma imagem alterada). The masculine form is alterado, and the plural forms are alteradas (feminine) and alterados (masculine).

Etymology and usage notes: Alterada derives from the verb alterar, itself from Latin alterare, meaning to change or modify. In everyday language, alterada is common in contexts such as versions of documents, software files, or designs that have been revised (por exemplo, arquivo alterado; versão alterada). It also appears in phrases like estado alterado, referring to an altered or modified state, including the concept of an altered state of consciousness in psychology or neuroscience.

Slang and informal use: In Brazilian Portuguese, alterada can describe someone who is upset, agitated, or emotionally unsettled, often in informal speech or among peers. This sense is distinct from the formal descriptive use and can carry gender-specific nuances.

Cultural notes: The word is sometimes used as a title or descriptor in music and media to convey modification, transformation, or heightened emotion, particularly in Brazilian popular culture. Its usage as a standalone term or in compound forms is largely determined by context.

See also: Alter, Alteração, Alterar. English translation: altered.