Otherwise

How to spell otherwise

9 letters · 3 syllables

How to pronounce otherwise

Say the part in capitals loudest.

What does otherwise mean?

1. adverbIn different circumstances, or else; alternatively or in other respects.

Otherwise in a sentence

• Pay the invoice by Friday; otherwise a late fee applies.

• The engine was noisy, but otherwise the car ran well.

Where does otherwise come from?

Language of origin: Germanic

This is a native English word, built entirely from Old English elements. It joins 'other', from Old English 'other' meaning 'second' or 'different', with the suffix '-wise', which descends from Old English 'wis' meaning 'way' or 'manner' (the same root that gives us 'wise' in the sense of knowing the way of things). So the literal sense was something like 'in another manner'. The word is recorded in Old English as 'on othre wisan', meaning 'in another way', and it gradually fused into a single adverb over the medieval period. The modern senses, both 'in different circumstances' and 'in other respects', grew naturally from that core idea of 'a different way'. Because the spelling is simply 'other' plus 'wise', the only real trap is remembering the silent feel of the joined-up ending rather than writing it as two words.

How the word is built

• other (different, alternative)
• -wise (in the manner of, from Old English -wis 'way, manner')