else

The word 'else' originates from Old English elles, meaning "otherwise, besides, different." This, in turn, can be traced back to Proto-Germanic \aljaz ("other, another"), which is related to Latin alius and Greek allos, both meaning "other." The Proto-Indo-European root \h₂el-, meaning "beyond" or "other," underpins this widespread concept. Over time, the Old English form solidified into the modern 'else,' shifting from a standalone adjective to primarily an adverb used to refer to an additional or alternative person, thing, or situation.

The word 'else' is a simplex form derived from Old English. It functions as an adverb or adjective in modern English.