12 Feb 2010 1:40
When used to modify an adjective, the English word “otherwise” means “in (all) other respects,” but it almost always highlights a contrast. For example, “A bone in my filet de dorade was the only bump—and a small one—in the otherwise excellent gastronomic journey we enjoyed at El Patagón Goloso.” The filet wasn’t perfect, but everything else was. (was / wasn’t)
Earlier this evening, I wanted a word like “otherwise” that didn’t highlight a contrast. For example, suppose El Patagón Goloso’s dorade was the best I’d ever eaten, and the rest of the meal was also excellent. After a description of the dorade, “otherwise” doesn’t work. “Otherwise, the meal was excellent” suggests that something (whatever was previously mentioned) about the meal was not excellent. The only solutions seem to me too long or a bit awkward: “In all other respects, however, the meal was excellent.” or “The meal was otherwise excellent as well.”
Stuck without a word, I made one up: “alsowise.” I think it’s useful, not only as an answer to the analogy AND:BUT::?:OTHERWISE.
February 17th, 2010 at 6:36 pm
lol…. i used “alsowise” for 2 or three years…. i always thought this was an existing word 😀
October 2nd, 2010 at 11:01 pm
[…] coined or threatened to coin, like headlinic, toddfoolery, pastametric, mispostrophe, maniest, alsowise, sicize, vulpigeration, and interludinous, have made it even so far as Wiktionary, my having […]