altering
UK[ˈɔːltərɪŋ]US[ˈɔːltərɪŋ]
v
(present participle of alter) Making something different; changing in some way, typically a small or moderate change.
Morpheme Breakdown
alter
ing
alter
change
ing
present participle suffix
Etymology
The word 'altering' is built upon the verb 'alter', which entered English in the late 14th century from Old French 'alterer', itself derived from the Latin 'alterare', meaning 'to change'. This Latin verb stems from 'alter', meaning 'the other (of two)', a concept rooted in the Proto-Indo-European comparative structure. The suffix '-ing' is of Germanic origin, used in Old English to form present participles. Thus, 'altering' literally denotes the ongoing process of making something become 'the other' or a different state, capturing the essence of modification.
Analysis
Structure: alter (change) + ing (present participle suffix)
alter (Latin origin, from 'alterare' meaning 'to change'); ing (Old English origin, a suffix forming the present participle of verbs).
Examples
They are altering the original design to make it more efficient.
The tailor is altering the dress to fit perfectly.
The new evidence is altering our understanding of the historical event.