Where does “elseness” come from?
elseness (English) comes from English else, from Middle English ells, from Old English elles, from Proto-West Germanic alljas, from Proto-Germanic aljas, from Proto-Indo-European h₂élyos, from Proto-Indo-European h₂él- — to grow, nourish.
elseness (English): The quality of being something else
Definitions
- The quality of being something else
Ancestry of “elseness”, step by step
elseness traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via English else
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | else | Other; in addition to previously mentioned items;... |
| 2 | Middle English | ells | — |
| 3 | Old English | elles | other, else; other, otherwise, different |
| 4 | Proto-West Germanic | alljas | else, otherwise, besides |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | aljas | of another, of something else |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂élyos | other, another |
| 7 | Proto-Indo-European | h₂él- | to grow, nourish |
via English Ness
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | English | Ness | An Ulster princess and the mother of Conchobar mac Nessa and Findchoem in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology. Daughter of Eochaid Sálbuide. Also the mother of Cormac Cond Longas by incest with Conchobar mac Nessa |
| 2 | Middle English | nesse | — |
| 3 | Old English | næs | not, not at all; not; first/third-person singular... |
| 4 | Proto-Germanic | nasją | foothill; headland; cape |
| 5 | Proto-Indo-European | néh₂s | nose |