Etymologically
Log in

otherwise

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 15 October 2026 at 18:38. This address is a permanent link to this version.
Changes in this edit History

Pronunciation

  • IPA: UK /ˈʌð.ə.waɪz/, US /ˈʌð.ɚ.waɪz/[1]

Etymology

It is inherited from Middle English otherwise, oþre wise,[2][3] from the Old English phrase on ōþre wīsan (“in another manner”),[2][3][4] from ōþer, the source of other, and wīse (“way, manner”), the source of the noun wise.[2][5] The phrase became oþre wise in Middle English and oþerwise by the mid-14th century.[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

The phrase with wise “manner” as a separate noun is from about 888;[6] the adverb “in another way, differently” is from 971.[6] Merriam-Webster dates the adverb to the 13th century.[3]

Semantic evolution

“In other circumstances, if not, else” is from 1390,[6] and “in other respects” from 1594.[6] As an adjective, “different”, it is from about 1400.[2] The phrase or otherwise, following a word to mean its opposite (deliberate or otherwise), is from 1886.[6] Middle English had similar words, otherwhere “elsewhere” and otherwhat “something else”.[2] In Yorkshire dialect otherwise meant “out of sorts, poorly”.[7]

Timeline

  • c. 888 – Old English on ōþre wīsan.[6]
  • 971 – in another way.[6]
  • mid-14th century – the form oþerwise.[2]
  • 1390 – if not, else.[6]
  • c. 1400 – adjective, different.[2]
  • 1594 – in other respects.[6]
  • 1886 – or otherwise.[6]

Modern meaning

Adverb

  1. In another way; differently: he thinks otherwise.
  2. In other circumstances; if not, or else: hurry, otherwise we'll be late.
  3. In other respects: an otherwise pleasant day.

Adjective

  1. Different from what is supposed.
  • other
  • wise
  • likewise
  • guise

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 d e f g h Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  3. ^ a b c Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
  4. ^ Shorter Oxford English Dictionary on Historical Principles (2002), 5th ed., ed. William R. Trumble and Angus Stevenson, Oxford: Oxford University Press
  5. ^ Pearsall, Judy, ed. (1998), The New Oxford Dictionary of English, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press
  7. ^ Wright, Joseph, ed. (1898–1905), The English Dialect Dictionary, 6 vols., Oxford: Henry Frowde; via EDD Online 4.0, University of Innsbruck (CC BY 4.0)