others
Meaning
Used to refer to additional people or things of the same type as those already mentioned or known.
Used to refer to the remaining people or things in a group; the rest.
Different people or things from the person or thing that is the subject of discussion.
Structure
Usage
Some people prefer tea, while others prefer coffee.
He helped the others finish their work.
We must consider the needs of others.
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
- 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.