ealdor

ealdor

See also: ealdor-

Old English

Alternative forms

• aldor, ealder

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈæɑ̯ldor/, [ˈæɑ̯ɫdor]

Etymology 1

From Proto-Germanic *aldraz.

Noun

ealdor m (West Saxon)

1. elder, parent, head of a family; senior man; chief, lord
2. author; source
3. (in the plural) ancestors
4. (religious) elder

Declension

Declension of ealdor (strong a-stem)

Case	Singular	Plural
nominative	ealdor	ealdras
accusative	ealdor	ealdras
genitive	ealdres	ealdra
dative	ealdre	ealdrum

Derived terms

• ealdorlēas

Descendants

• Middle English: alder
• ⇒ Old English: ealdorman
  • Middle English: alderman, aldermon
    • English: alderman

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.
2. age, old age, eld; eternity.

Declension

Declension of ealdor (strong a-stem)

Case	Singular	Plural
nominative	ealdor	ealdor
accusative	ealdor	ealdor
genitive	ealdres	ealdra
dative	ealdre	ealdrum

Descendants

• Middle English: ealdor, eldir