InsaneJournal

Today's Word Rant concerns the use of the words Altar and Alter. There is very little that I find more irritating than having someone mix up these two words. Their meanings are so dynamically different that an error in their use can totally ruin a story for me. So here are the correct uses:

• Altar: A raised platform, such as a table, upon which one places offerings to a deity or individual. One may also kneel or prostrate themselves before an altar as a sign of respect or contrition.
  One of my readers has further clarified the meaning of this word for us. Anonymous adds:
  "An Altar is an area where sacrifice or worship is preformed, the word was first used in relation to Olympia where a pile of ash from previous sacrifice marked the place for future sacrifice, this ash altar was never replaced with a more formal altar. While altars are now normally raised platforms the word does not mean only that type of altar."
  Example: He laid his offering to the Goddess on the altar. She knelt before the altar to pray.
• Alter: To change, to make different. Example: He moved a piece and altered the pattern. Alter your attitude, Young Man!

 Bookworm