Dictionary

athel en · ADJ · etymology 1

Pronunciation

• /ˈæθəl/
• /ˈeɪθəl/

Etymology

From Middle English athel, ethel, hathel (“noble; nobleman, hero”), from Old English æþele (“noble”), from Proto-West Germanic *aþulī, from Proto-Germanic *aþulijaz (“of noble birth, noble”), from *aþalą (“nature; nobility”). Cognates Akin to Saterland Frisian eedel (“noble”), Oadel (“nobility”), West Frisian eal (“noble”), Dutch adel (“nobility”), edel (“noble”), German Adel (“nobility”), edel (“noble”), Yiddish אַדל (adl, “nobility”), איידל (eydl, “noble”), Elfdalian aðel (“noble; nobility”), Faroese aðal (“noble; nobility”), Icelandic aðal (“speciality, hallmark, characteristic”), aðall (“nobility”). Middle English form hathel due to conflation with Old English hæleþ (“hero”). See heleth.

Meanings

1. (obsolete) noble, highborn
2. (obsolete) excellent, splendid, fine
3. (obsolete) genuine, sincere, devout

Forms

athel en · NOUN · etymology 1

Pronunciation

• /ˈæθəl/
• /ˈeɪθəl/

Etymology

From Middle English athel, ethel, hathel (“noble; nobleman, hero”), from Old English æþele (“noble”), from Proto-West Germanic *aþulī, from Proto-Germanic *aþulijaz (“of noble birth, noble”), from *aþalą (“nature; nobility”). Cognates Akin to Saterland Frisian eedel (“noble”), Oadel (“nobility”), West Frisian eal (“noble”), Dutch adel (“nobility”), edel (“noble”), German Adel (“nobility”), edel (“noble”), Yiddish אַדל (adl, “nobility”), איידל (eydl, “noble”), Elfdalian aðel (“noble; nobility”), Faroese aðal (“noble; nobility”), Icelandic aðal (“speciality, hallmark, characteristic”), aðall (“nobility”). Middle English form hathel due to conflation with Old English hæleþ (“hero”). See heleth.

Meanings

1. (obsolete) A chief or lord.
   • Proclamation in that place, was plainely declared, That every hatell should him hie, in hast that he might, To Bolton in Geldowre, all in godly haste. c. 1515, The Scottish Field:
   • To tell of his deir weid war doutles delite, And alse ter for to tell the travalis war tight. His name and his nobillay wes noght for to nyte; Thair wes na hathill sa heich, be half ane fute hicht. 1508, Golagros and Gawane:

Forms

Deriveds

Ethelwolf · atheldom · atheling

athel en · NOUN · etymology 2

Pronunciation

• /ˈæθəl/
• /ˈeɪθəl/

Etymology

From Arabic أَثَل (ʔaṯal).

Meanings

1. A kind of tamarisk native to northern Africa and the Middle East, Tamarix aphylla, planted widely elsewhere as a shade tree and a windbreak due to its tolerance of heat and of alkaline soils, but tending to become invasive outside of its native range.

Forms