altère

Altère is the third-person singular present indicative form of the French verb altérer. It can also appear as j'altère in the first-person singular when the verb is used with the subject pronoun. Altérer means to alter, modify, or degrade something; in some contexts it can imply adulteration or contamination of a substance, data, or result.

Etymology and meaning: Altérer derives from Old French alterer, from Latin alterare, from alter “other.” The word is related to the English verb alter. In modern French, it typically describes a change that affects quality, identity, or integrity, often with a negative or unintended nuance.

Usage and nuance: Altère is a transitive verb used to describe changes in properties, composition, or condition. It can refer to physical properties, measurements, or informational content. Examples include changing the taste of a solution, modifying the outcome of an experiment, or altering the reliability of data. The term carries a sense that the change is not desirable or expected in the given context.

Conjugation: Present indicative forms include j'altère, tu altères, il altère, nous altérons, vous altérez, ils altèrent. The verb also appears in other tenses and moods (altérer, j'altérerai, ils ont altéré, etc.) with standard -er verb conjugation patterns.

Related terms: The corresponding noun is altération, meaning alteration or deterioration, used across science, medicine, law, and everyday language to denote a change or degradation. Altération is often distinguished from simple modification by its potential negative or intrusive connotation.

See also: alter (English cognate), altération.