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Below is one of the definitions for "else" in the online edition of the Oxford English Dictionary followed by some of the citations. Some are archaic and some are from poetry, but the last two citations seem to indicate fairly recent colloquial usage. 3.a. In another case, under other circumstances; otherwise, on any other supposition; if not. Now usually preceded by or: see or else at or conj.1 6. a1225 (c1200) Vices & Virtues (1888) 27 (MED) All ȝelief ðu fastliche, elles ðu, ne namann ne mai bien ȝeboreȝen.
a1375 (c1350) William of Palerne (1867) l. 1647 (MED) Foule þow me fodest wiþ þi faire wordes, elles had i deide for duel.
1570 T. Tusser Hundreth Good Pointes Husbandry (new ed.) f. 19 Where Iuie embraceth the tree very sore, kill Iuie, or tree else will adle no more.
1590 E. Spenser Faerie Queene i. i. sig. A5v Strangle her, els she sure will strangle thee.
1837 J. H. Newman Parochial Serm. (ed. 3) I. v. 115 Else how should any one be saved?
1873 R. Browning Red Cotton Night-cap Country ii. 115 Boughs above, Darken, deform the path, else sun would streak.
1938 H. L. Mencken Diary 10 Aug. (1989) 112 Black has told friends that this indicates to him that Reed must be a trimmer, else he would not be favored by all parties.
2013 L. Powell Witch Fire xvii. 155 Shut up, else I'll only make it worse for you. Both of you. And here are a few citations I found by searching at Project Gutenberg: They were, in fact, beatified bees, who had to be solemnly invited to attend the death mass when the owner died, else they would fly away, refusing to stay. https://www.gutenberg.org/files/14036/14036-h/14036-h.htm “now, I hope, my trial is ended; else its length will be, as in some other cases, the worst of punishments.” https://www.gutenberg.org/files/9414/9414-h/9414-h.htm It is absolutely necessary that the plate be chemically clean all over, else the film of collodion, upon drying, will split, and the negative be spoilt. https://www.gutenberg.org/files/52378/52378-h/52378-h.htm |