oth·er / ˈə[voicedth]ər/ • adj. & pron. 1. used to refer to a person or thing that is different or distinct from one already mentioned or known about: [as adj.] stick the camera on a tripod or some other means of support other people found her difficult | [as pron.] a language unrelated to any other. ∎  the alternative of two: [as adj.] the other side of the page | [as pron.] flinging up first one arm and then the other one or the other of them is bound to be a liar. ∎  those remaining in a group; those not already mentioned: [as adj.] they took the other three away in an ambulance | [as pron.] Fred set off and the others followed. 2. further; additional: [as adj.] one other word of advice | [as pron.] reporting three stories and rewriting three others. 3. (the Other) [pron.] Philos. & Sociology that which is distinct from, different from, or opposite to something or oneself.PHRASES: no other archaic nothing else: we can do no other.other than apart from; except: he claims not to own anything other than his home. ∎  differently or different from; otherwise than: there is no suggestion that we are to take this other than literally.on the other hand see hand.the other day (or night, week, etc.) a few days (or nights, weeks, etc.) ago.someone (or something or somehow, etc.) or other some unspecified or unknown person, thing, manner, etc. (used to express vagueness or uncertainty): they were protesting about something or other.ORIGIN: Old English ōther, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch and German ander, from an Indo-European root meaning ‘different.’

other how the other half lives used to express or allude to the way of life of a different group in society, especially a wealthier one (from the proverb one half of the world does not know how the other half lives).
other times, other manners proverbial saying, late 16th century, used in resignation or consolation. The same idea is found in a number of forms and languages, as in the work of the Greek lyric poet Pindar (518–438 bc), ‘think different thoughts at different times’, and in the French saying autres temps, autres mœurs ‘other times, other customs’.

See also do unto others, one hand washes the other, a rose by any other name, wait for the other shoe to fall, six of one and half a dozen of the other.

other †one of two; the remaining (orig. one of two); existing besides OE.; different (as in ANOTHER) XIII. OE. ōöer = OS. ōöar, andar, OHG. andar (Du., G. ander), ON. annarr, Goth. anpar :- Gmc. *anþeraz :- IE. *anteros (compar. formation with *-teros); parallel to Skr. ántara- different, Lith. an̄tras, based on IE. *an- as in Skr. anyá- other.
Hence otherwise (OE. on ōöre wīsan).