ealdormann

• aldermon, aldermonn, aldorman, aldormon, æalderman, æaldorman, ealdorman, ealdormon

Compound of ealdor (“elder, leader”) +‎ mann (“man”). Cognate with Swedish ålderman (“(archaic) elder; spokesman, representative (of a tribe or family)”).

• IPA^(key): /ˈæ͜ɑl.dorˌmɑnn/, [ˈæ͜ɑɫ.dorˌmɑn]

ealdormann m

1. A leader, ruler, or prince:
   1. An ealdorman (Anglo-Saxon high nobleman and governmental official).
      • Laws of King Ine

        Ġif hē ealdormon sie, ðolie his sċire, būton him kyning arian wille

        If he is an alderman, he shall lose his shire, unless the king wishes to pardon him.

   2. A Roman governor.
2. A master or overseer.
3. A judge.

• Used to indicate various occupations in various contexts (both secular and ecclesiastical) in the Old English corpus, but generally has a meaning of “leader”, “master” or “judge”.

Strong consonant stem:

• Middle English: alderman, alder man, aldirman, halderman, aldyrman, altherman (Early Scots), allderrmann (Ormulum), aldyrmann (Promptorium Parvulorum), alder mon (Early Middle English, Worcestershire)
  • English: alderman
  • Middle Scots: alderman
    • Scots: alderman
  • → Anglo-Norman: alderman, aldreman
• → English: ealdorman, ealderman, eolderman (learned)
• → Medieval Latin: aldermannus