alteram

Alteram is the feminine accusative singular form of the Latin adjective alter, meaning “the other” or “the second of two.” It is used to modify a feminine noun in the accusative case, identifying the object as the other one in a pair or comparison. For example, altera viam means “the other road,” and alteram rem means “the other matter.”

As a Latin adjective, alter declines like a standard first/second declension form. In masculine terms the base form is alter, in feminine it is altera, and in neuter it is alterum. The accusative feminine form, alteram, agrees with feminine singular nouns such as via (road), res (matter), or pars (part), yielding phrases like alteram viam, alteram rem, or alteram partem.

Common uses of alteram include paired contrasts and formulations expressing preference or distinction between two options. A widely cited idiomatic expression is alteram partem, meaning “on the other hand” or “on the other part of the argument.” Another frequent construction is ex altera parte, meaning “from the other side,” though this uses altera in the genitive/absolutive construction rather than alteram.

The term itself does not designate a modern concept, organization, or place; rather, it appears as a grammatical form within Latin texts and literature. It is most relevant to students and scholars of Latin grammar, philology, and classical rhetoric. See also alter, altera, alterum, and related phrases such as alteram partem.