Otherly
adj, adv ·Rare ·Advanced level
Definitions
- 1 Pertaining to something or someone else; different.
"As against this "otherly" and warlike definition, there occurs and recurs, both in the public relations literature and in the serious discussion of policy, a more "brotherly" and peaceful set of themes, parallel to those which permit [...]"
- 2 Pertaining or directed toward others; otherish.
"He has no needs or wants that are not met within the eternal community of otherly love known as the triune Godhead of Father, Son, and Spirit. God doesn't need us."
- 1 Otherwise; differently. nonstandard
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
More examples"As against this "otherly" and warlike definition, there occurs and recurs, both in the public relations literature and in the serious discussion of policy, a more "brotherly" and peaceful set of themes, parallel to those which permit [...]"
Etymology
From other + -ly.
From Middle English otherliche, from Old English ōþerlīċe (“otherwise, differently”), equivalent to other + -ly. Cognate with Old Saxon ōþarlīk, Old High German andarlīh, Icelandic annarligur, Gothic 𐌰𐌽𐌸𐌰𐍂𐌻𐌴𐌹𐌺𐍉 (anþarleikō, “otherwise”).
Related phrases
More for "otherly"
Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.