ealdor

Old English

Alternative forms

• aldor, ealder

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈæ͜ɑl.dor/, [ˈæ͜ɑɫ.dor]

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

   ealdorapostol ― chief-apostle

   ealdorbiscop ― arch-bishop

   ealdordēma ― supreme judge

3. prince, king

   ealdorbotl ― palace

   ealdorstōl ― throne

4. author; source, origin, authority, derivation
5. (in the plural) ancestors
6. (religious) elder

Declension

Strong a-stem:

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

Derived terms

• ealdorburg
• 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

   ealdorċearu ― care of life

   ealdorbana ― destroyer of life

   ealdorlegu ― destiny, fate; course of life

   ealdordagas ― the days of ones life; lifetime

2. age, old age; eternity

   ealdorlang ― eternal

Declension

Strong a-stem:

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

Descendants

• Middle English: ealdor, eldir