Else (?), a. & pron. [OE. & AS. elles otherwise, gen. sing. of an adj. signifying other; akin to OHG. elles otherwise, OSw. aljes, Sw. eljest, Goth. aljis, adj., other, L. alius, Gr. . Cf. Alias, Alien.]

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.

 

© Webster 1913.


Else, adv. & conj.

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.

 

© Webster 1913.

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