Alterative

3 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Alterative \Al"ter*a*tive\, n.
     A medicine or treatment which gradually induces a change, and
     restores healthy functions without sensible evacuations.
     [1913 Webster]

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:



  Alterative \Al"ter*a*tive\, a. [L. alterativus: cf. F.
     alt['e]ratif.]
     Causing ateration. Specifically: Gradually changing, or
     tending to change, a morbid state of the functions into one
     of health. --Burton.
     [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  alterative
       adj : tending to cure or restore to health; "curative powers of
             herbal remedies"; "her gentle healing hand"; "remedial
             surgery"; "a sanative environment of mountains and
             fresh air"; "a therapeutic agent"; "therapeutic diets"
             [syn: {curative}, {healing(p)}, {remedial}, {sanative},
              {therapeutic}]