Word Study
else
CIDE DICTIONARY
else, a. & pron. [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.].
Other; one or something beside; as, Who else is coming? What else shall I give? Do you expect anything else? Shak. [1913 Webster]
" 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. " Thackeray. [1913 Webster]
else, adv. & conj.
- Besides; except that mentioned; in addition; as, nowhere else; no one else. [1913 Webster]
- Otherwise; in the other, or the contrary, case; if the facts were different. [1913 Webster]" After ‘or', else is sometimes used expletively, as simply noting an alternative. “Will you give thanks, . . . or else shall I?”" Shak. [1913 Webster]"For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it." [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
else, adv.
1 (prec. by indef. or interrog. pron.) besides; in addition (someone else; nowhere else; who else).
2 instead; other, different (what else could I say?; he did not love her, but someone else).
3 otherwise; if not (run, (or) else you will be late).
1 (prec. by indef. or interrog. pron.) besides; in addition (someone else; nowhere else; who else).
2 instead; other, different (what else could I say?; he did not love her, but someone else).
3 otherwise; if not (run, (or) else you will be late).
Etymology
OE elles, rel. to L alius, Gk allos
THESAURUS
else
above, added, additionally, again, alias, all included, also, altogether, among other things, and all, and also, and so, another, as well, au reste, beside, besides, beyond, contrarily, elsewise, en plus, extra, farther, for lagniappe, fresh, further, furthermore, in addition, in other respects, in other ways, inter alia, into the bargain, item, likewise, more, moreover, new, not that sort, not the same, not the type, of a sort, of another sort, of sorts, on the side, on top of, or else, other, other than, otherwise, over, peculiar, plus, rare, similarly, special, sui generis, than, then, therewith, to boot, too, unique, yetROGET THESAURUS
else
Addition
N addition, annexation, adjection, junction, superposition, superaddition, superjunction, superfetation, accession, reinforcement, increase, increment, supplement, accompaniment, interposition, insertion, added, additional, supplemental, supplementary, suppletory, subjunctive, adjectitious, adscititious, ascititious, additive, extra, accessory, au reste, in addition, more, plus, extra, and, also, likewise, too, furthermore, further, item, and also, and eke, else, besides, to boot, et cetera, and so on, and so forth, into the bargain, cum multis aliis, over and above, moreover, with, withal, including, inclusive, as well as, not to mention, let alone, together with, along with, coupled with, in conjunction with, conjointly, jointly, adde parvum parvo magnus acervus erit.For further exploring for "else" in Webster Dictionary Online