else English · revision 3914

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=inherited|attested=971 (Old English elles)|origins=ine-pro *alyos}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /els/^(Roach et al. 2011)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[inh|enm|elles]], [[inh|ang|elles|t=otherwise, besides, different]],^(Etymonline)^(Barnhart 1988) the neuter genitive singular of a Germanic adjective meaning “other”, used as an adverb,^(Klein 1966)^(Hoad 1986)^(SOED 2002) from [[gem-pro|*aljaz]].^(Etymonline)^(Hoad 1986) Barnhart traces it to [[ine-pro|*alyos|t=other]],^(Barnhart 1988) which Etymonline and Klein derive from a base [[m|ine-pro|*al-|t=beyond]].^(Etymonline)^(Klein 1966) Its relatives include [[la|alius|t=other]], [[grc|ἄλλος|tr=állos|t=other]] and Old Irish [[m|sga|aile]],^(Barnhart 1988)^(Klein 1966) and English [[alien]], [[alias]], [[alibi]], [[alter]], [[parallel]] and [[ulterior]].^(Klein 1966)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Other, otherwise, different: Old English ''elles'', 971.^(Barnhart 1988) The compound ''elsewhere'' is older, from about 725 in ''Beowulf''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Middle English ''elles'' became ''els'' in the 15th century and was spelled ''else'' in the late 16th and early 17th centuries.^(Barnhart 1988) Used after pronouns as a near-adjective meaning “other”, as in ''someone else'', it is recorded from the 1660s.^(Etymonline) The threatening ''or else'', with the threat left unsaid, is found by 1814 in Walter Scott.^(Etymonline) English formed many compounds that did not last, such as ''elsewhen'' (early 15th century), ''elsehow'' (1660s) and ''elsewards'' (1882), while ''elsewhere'' and ''elsewise'' survive.^(Etymonline) The sense “in a different manner” was used from Old English times until about 1550.^(HTOED)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * c. 725 – ''elsewhere'' (''Beowulf'').^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 971 – Old English ''elles''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 15th century – the form ''els''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * late 16th century – the spelling ''else''.^(Barnhart 1988)

+ * 1660s – after pronouns, “other”.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1814 – ''or else'' as a threat.^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # ''(after indefinite or interrogative pronouns)'' Other, different: ''someone else''.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # Additional, more: ''anything else?''^(AHD)

+

+ ===Adverb===

+ # In a different or additional way, time or place: ''where else''.^(AHD)^(SOED 2002)

+ # If not; [[otherwise]]: ''hurry, or else you'll be late''.^(AHD)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[elsewhere]]

+ * [[elsewhither]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[alien]]

+ * [[alias]]

+ * [[alibi]]

+ * [[alter]]

+

+ ==Usage notes==

+ The American Heritage Dictionary considers ''else'' redundant after ''but'', ''except'' and ''besides'' (''no one else but Sam''), and notes that the possessive is ''someone else's'', not ''someone's else''.^(AHD)

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}