ealdor

• aldor, ealder

• IPA^(key): /ˈæ͜ɑl.dor/, [ˈæ͜ɑɫ.dor]

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.

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

Strong a-stem:

• Middle English: ealdor, eldir

According to Bammesberger, who rejects a derivation from *h₂el- (“to grow”) +‎ *-tōr (familial agentive suffix), a secondary masculine noun derived from Etymology 1.^[1]

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
   • 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

Strong a-stem:

• campealdor
• ealdorburg
• ealdorlēas

• Middle English: alder, ælder (Early Middle English, Worcestershire), haldur (Late Middle English, Lancashire)