There is authentic and authentic altered
Authentic Altered is clarity that in fact the card has been altered/doctored in some way (it would be nice if they added how). Trimmed, recolored, corners pressed are just a few possibilities.
Authentic is a bit less clear - Strong possibility of alteration as above (I don't think they started using "altered" till much later in their history). Also possibly outside of their grading criteria descriptions in some way but still a real (as opposed to counterfeited or reprinted) card. There are also certain issues (the 1967 and 1968 Topps Discs come to mind) that they will ONLY grade as Authentic - their position being that the cards are all proofs and never made it to final production stage.
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