otherwise

Etymology

From Middle English otherwise, othre wise, from Old English on ōþre wīsan (literally “in (on) other/different manner”); equivalent to other + -wise. Compare West Frisian yn oarwei (“otherwise”), Icelandic öðruvísi (“different”).

adv

1. (manner) Differently, in another way.
   You may have a point, but I think otherwise.
   Could I do otherwise than smile?
   It is not permitted to sell or otherwise distribute any copies.
   Much as I wish that I had not to write this chapter, I know that I shall have to swallow many such bitter draughts in the course of this narrative. And I cannot do otherwise, if I claim to be a worshipper of Truth. […] 1927-29, M.K. Gandhi, The Story of My Experiments with Truth, translated 1940 by Mahadev Desai, Part I, Chapter iii
   Fabio Capello insisted Rooney was in the right frame of mind to play in stormy Podgorica despite his father's arrest on Thursday in a probe into alleged betting irregularities, but his flash of temper - when he kicked out at Miodrag Dzudovic - suggested otherwise. 2011, Phil McNulty, Euro 2012: Montenegro 2-2 England
2. (conjunctive) In different circumstances; or else.
   I’m not well today, otherwise I would have helped.
   You have to open your umbrella, otherwise you'll get wet.
   Creating a complete map of the human connectome would therefore be a monumental milestone but not the end of the journey to understanding how our brains work. The achievement will transform neuroscience and serve as the starting point for asking questions we could not otherwise have answered,[…]. 2012 March-April, Terrence J. Sejnowski, “Well-connected Brains”, in American Scientist, volume 100, number 2, page 171
3. (conjunctive) In all other respects.
   He lost his temper once in a while. Otherwise he behaved rationally.
   Robin van Persie squandered United's best chance late on but otherwise it was a relatively comfortable afternoon for Liverpool's new goalkeeper Simon Mignolet, who has yet to concede a Premier League goal since his £9m summer move from Sunderland. 1 September 2013, Phil McNulty, BBC Sport

adj

1. Other than supposed; different.
   He said he didn’t do it, but the evidence was otherwise.