'Other' and 'alternative' aredistantcousins — both from PIE *h2enteros (the second of two).
Definition
Used to refer to a person or thing that is different or distinct from one already mentioned or known.
The Full Story
Old Englishbefore 700 CEwell-attested
From OldEnglish 'ōþer' (second, the other of two, a different one), from Proto-Germanic *anþeraz, from PIE *h₂énteros (other, second, the one opposite), a comparative formation on *h₂ent- (front, forehead, face — the part that faces you). Theword originally meant specifically 'the second of two' — a binary partner — and only later broadened to 'a different one' in general. The deepPIEroot
Did you know?
English 'other' andLatin 'alter' (source of 'alternative,' 'alter ego,' 'altruism') are cousins from the same PIE root. When yousay 'the other one' or 'the alternative,' you are using the same ancient word twice in two different disguises.
English 'anti-,' 'anterior,' 'ancient,' and 'answer' (literally, 'to swear against' — from Old English 'andswaru,' a counter-oath). Proto-Germanic *anþeraz
(from the same PIE root via a different suffix), giving English 'alternate,' 'alteration,' 'alter ego,' and 'alias.' The 'other' of 'other' is thus etymologically 'the one
you' — defined by its opposition, the thing on the other side of the forehead. The PIE root thus generated both the Germanic 'other' and the Latin 'alter' as parallel expressions of the concept of the second, the facing, the different. Key roots: *h₂ent- (Proto-Indo-European: "front, forehead"), *-teros (Proto-Indo-European: "comparative suffix (of two)").