others
UK[ˈʌðəz]US[ˈʌðərz]
pron
Used to refer to additional people or things of the same type as those already mentioned or known.
pron
Used to refer to the remaining people or things in a group; the rest.
pron
Different people or things from the person or thing that is the subject of discussion.
Morpheme Breakdown
other
s
other
different, second
s
plural suffix
Etymology
The word 'others' originates from the Old English ōþer, which meant 'the second' or 'the other of two'. This term is deeply rooted in the Proto-Germanic antharaz and further back in the Proto-Indo-European ánteros, meaning 'the other of two' or 'second'. The core semantic concept of differentiation and alternation has remained remarkably stable. The addition of the common plural suffix '-s' transformed the singular 'other' into a collective pronoun, 'others', shifting the focus from a binary contrast to a general reference to additional, different, or remaining entities within a larger set.
Analysis
Structure: other (different, second) + s (plural suffix)
- other: From Old English ōþer (the second, the other of two), of Germanic origin; related to Old Norse annarr, German ander. Functions as the core adjective/pronoun meaning 'different' or 'additional'.
- s: A native English plural suffix, from Old English -as, used here to form the plural pronoun.
Examples
Some people prefer tea, while others prefer coffee.
He helped the others finish their work.
We must consider the needs of others.