Etymologically
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elsewhere

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Pronunciation

  • IPA: UK /ˌelsˈweə/, /ˌelsˈhweə/, US /ˈels.wer/, /ˈels.hwer/[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Middle English elleswher, inherited from Old English elles hwǣr,[2][3] a compound of the ancestors of else and where.[3][2][4]

Earliest recorded meaning

In another place: before 1200 in the OED and MWU, about 1400 in Etymonline.[5][2][3]

Semantic evolution

To another place, the same as elsewhither, is from 1513.[5] Old English also had elleshwider “to another place”.[3]

Timeline

  • a. 1200 – in another place.[5]
  • 1513 – to another place.[5]

Modern meaning

Adverb

  1. In, at or to another place.

Pronoun

  1. Some other place.
  • elsewhither
  • else
  • where

References

  1. ^ Jones, Daniel (2011), Cambridge English Pronouncing Dictionary, 18th ed., ed. Peter Roach, Jane Setter and John Esling, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
  2. ^ a b c Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
  3. ^ a b c d Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  4. ^ Pearsall, Judy, ed. (1998), The New Oxford Dictionary of English, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  5. ^ a b c d Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press