else Meaning, Definition & Usage

Else adjective & pronoun

Etymology

OE. & AS. elles otherwise, gen. sing. of an adj. signifying other; akin to OHG. elles otherwise, OSw. äljes, Sw. eljest, Goth. aljis, adj., other, L. alius, Gr. . Cf. Alias, Alien.

Definitions

1. Other; one or something beside; as, Who else is coming? What else shall I give? Do you expect anything else? "Bastards and else." Shak. ✍ This word always follows its noun. It is usual to give the possessive form to else rather than to the substantive; as, somebody else's; no one else's. "A boy who is fond of somebody else's pencil case." G. Eliot. "A suit of clothes like everybody else's." Thackeray.

Else adverb & conjunction

Definitions

1. Besides; except that mentioned; in addition; as, nowhere else; no one else.
2. Otherwise; in the other, or the contrary, case; if the facts were different.

   For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it. Ps. li. 16.

   ✍ After `or', else is sometimes used expletively, as simply noting an alternative. "Will you give thanks, . . . or else shall I?" Shak.