ealdor

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Old English

Alternative forms

Pronunciation

Etymology 1

From Proto-West Germanic *aldr, from Proto-Germanic *aldraz.

Noun

ealdor m (West Saxon)

  1. elder, parent, head of a family; senior man
  2. chief, lord, leader, master
    ealdorapostolchief-apostle
    ealdorbiscoparch-bishop
    ealdordēmasupreme judge
  3. prince, king
    ealdorbotlpalace
    ealdorstōlthrone
  4. author; source, origin, authority, derivation
  5. (in the plural) ancestors
    • Laws of Hlothhere and Eadric
      Þis syndon þā dōmas ðe Hloþhære ⁊ Ēadrīc, Cantwara cyningas, asetton. Hloþhære ⁊ Ēadrīc, Cantwara cyningas, ēcton þā ǣ, þā ðe heora aldoras ǣr ġeworhten, ðyssum dōmum þe hȳr efter sæġeþ.
      These are the laws that Hlothhere and Eadric, kings of Kent, laid down. Hlothhere and Eadric, kings of Kent, added these laws listed hereafter to the laws their ancestors created.
  6. (religious) elder
Declension

Strong a-stem:

singular plural
nominative ealdor ealdras
accusative ealdor ealdras
genitive ealdres ealdra
dative ealdre ealdrum
Derived terms
Descendants
  • Middle English: alder
  • Old English: ealdorman

Etymology 2

From Proto-Germanic *aldrą (life, age), from Proto-Indo-European *h₂el- (to grow). Cognate with Old Saxon aldar, Old High German altar, Old Norse aldr.

Noun

ealdor n

  1. life, the vital parts of the body
    ealdorċearucare of life
    ealdorbanadestroyer of life
    ealdorlegudestiny, fate; course of life
    ealdordagasthe days of ones life; lifetime
  2. age, old age; eternity
    ealdorlangeternal
Declension

Strong a-stem:

singular plural
nominative ealdor ealdor
accusative ealdor ealdor
genitive ealdres ealdra
dative ealdre ealdrum
Descendants