else
UK: els | US: els
Definition
adj. other; different; additional
adv. in addition; otherwise
Structure
No data yet.
Etymology
The word "else" traces back to Old English elles, meaning "other" or "otherwise," derived from Proto-Germanic aljis. It shares roots with Old High German elles (other) and Gothic aljis (another). Over time, its spelling simplified to "else," retaining the core sense of "otherness" or "alternative." Unlike many modern English words, "else" remains monomorphic—its meaning is indivisible in contemporary usage, functioning as a standalone adverb or adjective.
Examples
Do you want anything else with your coffee?
She looked everywhere else before finding her keys.
Hurry up, or else we’ll be late.
No one else knows the secret.
If the plan fails, what else can we try?