In another way or manner; alternatively; otherwise.
A combination of 'else' (otherwise) and '-wise' (a suffix meaning 'in the manner of' or 'as regards,' from Old English 'wisan'), creating a dialectal adverb.
The '-wise' suffix once produced tons of adverbs (clockwise, likewise, otherwise) before English speakers largely stopped using it creatively—'elsewise' is an old attempt at this word-building that didn't survive.
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