Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[jasonlulu_2000]

She didn't intend to steal when she went into the store. She is at a loss to explain it. She is OTHERWISE a very respectable and intelligent young lady.

I cannot find a proper explanation for "otherwise" in this case in a dictionary?

Could you paraphrase it in this sentence?

Thanks

[Bluegum]

"Otherwise" means "apart from in this case." Thus, she is usually very respectable and intelligent, so she wouldn't usually steal - but this time, she did.