English
else
Else comes from Old English elles ‘other, otherwise, different’, from Proto-Germanic *aljas ‘of another, of something else’, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₂el- ‘other’.
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂el-‘other’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂élyos‘other’reconstructed
- Proto-Germanicc. 500 BCE–200 CE*aljaz‘other’reconstructed
- Proto-Germanic, derivedc. 500 BCE–200 CE*aljas‘of another’reconstructedgenitive of *aljaz
- Proto-West Germanicc. 200–500 CE*alljas‘else’reconstructed
- Old Englishc. 450–1150elles‘other’
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500ells
- Englishearliest quotation 1610–1611else
attested reconstructed ? uncertain or disputed deepest recorded ancestor
Lineage
- Proto-Indo-Europeanc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂el-‘other’reconstructed
- Proto-Indo-European, derivedc. 4500–2500 BCE*h₂élyos‘other’reconstructed
- Proto-Germanicc. 500 BCE–200 CE*aljaz‘other’reconstructed
- Proto-Germanic, derivedc. 500 BCE–200 CE*aljas‘of another’reconstructedgenitive of *aljaz
- Proto-West Germanicc. 200–500 CE*alljas‘else’reconstructed
- Old Englishc. 450–1150elles‘other’
- Middle Englishc. 1150–1500ells
- Englishearliest quotation 1610–1611else
Earliest quotation: 1610–1611, William Shakespeare, The Tempest: “Prospero: Thou hast done well, fine Ariel. Follow me;…”
Linked words
through Proto-Indo-European *h₂el- ‘other’
as, all, old, adult, ultimate, ultra, element, alter, el, altitude, alumni, qualification, outrage, alt, altar, ou, elder, ellen, alpine, adolescent, abolish, alto, alias, alum, alienation, retaliate, alimony, alp, alienate, proletariat, auld, ulterior, inalienable, coalesce, exalt, foetal, althea, altimeter, aad, withal, 59 more
through Proto-Indo-European *h₂élyos ‘other, another’
alien, alternate, adultery, altercation, alibi, altruism, parallax, alternation, 33 more
Today it means
adj Other; in addition to previously mentioned items.
Language periods are conventional ranges, not dates for this word.
Etymograph / Proto-Indo-European *h₂el- / else