*SET-U

English word origin

Etymology of alt.

For the "prefix", the alt.* hierarchy was one of the largest sections of the online discussion system Usenet. In contrast to the "mainstream" hierarchies, such as comp.* which related specifically to computing, alt.* was

1 source sectionExtended source reportWiktionary original ↗
In this entry · 1 source sections

The source etymologies

Wiktionary via Kaikki / Wiktextract

The source reports below are imported and unreviewed by *SET-U. Separate numbered origins and differing source variants are preserved; agreement within this extraction is not independent corroboration.

Unnumbered source etymology

Original entry ↗
prefix

Indicates a newsgroup, as used in fictional or hypothetical newsgroup names.

adj

Abbreviation of alternative.

Selected source glosses provide context, not a complete modern definition inventory

For the "prefix", the alt.* hierarchy was one of the largest sections of the online discussion system Usenet. In contrast to the "mainstream" hierarchies, such as comp.* which related specifically to computing, alt.* was the "alternative" hierarchy where opinions were shared on a wide range of miscellaneous subjects.

Inspect preserved source fields

Raw extraction fields are retained for auditing. Their order does not establish ancestry.

{
  "templates": [],
  "links": [
    [
      "Usenet",
      "Usenet"
    ]
  ],
  "references": [],
  "descendants": [],
  "lexical": [
    {
      "pos": "prefix",
      "glosses": [
        "Indicates a newsgroup, as used in fictional or hypothetical newsgroup names."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "morpheme"
      ],
      "recordId": "511d28e1107ef2d00366f90b8a34c5ac08f549b93f7cb30b33d59f7bcdb03c01",
      "rawRecordSha256": "9c5a8e5d3b9c553b0cefe5ad077176faf58b39b22428cbbfcdf61f92cd30b13e",
      "sourceRecordOrdinal": 7834883
    },
    {
      "pos": "adj",
      "glosses": [
        "Abbreviation of alternative."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "abbreviation",
        "alt-of"
      ],
      "recordId": "7d4b7a17a0284bcad32f259f4bd27f66db4637e0df43c2031feb179d0801dc9e",
      "rawRecordSha256": "0f975161880dceea519f3acf5a01642ad308c55d046345a88b6226c03fac76ef",
      "sourceRecordOrdinal": 7834882
    }
  ],
  "omittedAuxiliaryFields": {
    "templates": 0,
    "links": 0,
    "references": 0,
    "descendants": 0,
    "lexicalRecords": 0,
    "lexicalSenses": 0,
    "glosses": 0
  }
}

Where this record stops

This page does not supply an independently verified sound-change sequence, first-use manuscript or complete family tree unless a cited analysis explicitly establishes one. Missing detail here is a limit of this record—not a claim that humanity knows nothing more.

An older meaning does not determine what a word must mean today. Follow the sources, preserve disagreements, and keep ancestry separate from interpretation.

Contribute located evidence for alt. →

Source and snapshot

Imported from Wiktionary contributors; extracted by Tatu Ylonen / Wiktextract / Kaikki.org. Selected fields are reformatted and grouped; wording, source identity and etymology sections are retained. CC-BY-SA-4.0 applies to the imported source material.

Dump: 2026-10-01 · Extracted: 2026-10-30. These are snapshot dates, not the word’s first attestation or the page’s revision date.

Source entry and bibliography ↗Wiktionary revision history ↗Acquisition and rights ledger
Machine-source provenance
Source SHA-256
5ff2c072f8099f2d2ce484bd6957bf179f046d2ad37bc36555edf8bb84cb5291
Import run
73216b9a9b78ed3830994bf853103716f5a4dc57099e371e9f8fdc468facca26
Permanent entry ID
w-YWx0Lg