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▪ I. † ˈathel, n.1 Obs.
Forms: 1 æðel-u pl., 3 æðele, aðele pl., ? athel sing.
[OE. æðel-u, -o, neuter pl. of *æðel = OS. ađali n., OHG. adal n., MHG., mod.G., Du. adel ‘good family, noble descent, nobility,’ ON. aðal ‘family, race, kind,’ f. root *aþ Aryan ā̆t, not in Gothic. The orig. signification seems to have been ‘race, ancestry’ as in ON. (cf. the cognate ethel, OE. éðel, ‘ancestral land, patrimony, patria’), which was specialized in W.Ger. as ‘distinguished race, good family, nobility’: cf. specific use of G. geschlecht, and of family in ‘county families.’]
Ancestry, origin; spec. noble ancestry, nobility; hence, honour, dignity, might, power.
Beowulf 790 He eower æðelu can. c885K. ælfred Boeth. xxx. ii, His æðelo bioþ má on þam móde, ðonne on þam flæsce. 1205Lay. 2938 Þa ældede þe king & wakede an aðelan [1250 failede his mihte]. Ibid. 10629 He leoseden heore aðele. Ibid. 9263 Þe eorl Aruiragus mid æðele help his broðer. Ibid. 12915 His aðelen weore store. c1300in Wright Lyric P. viii. 33 In uch an hyrd thyn athel ys hyht.
▪ II. athel
var. ethel, Obs., patrimony.
▪ III. † ˈathel, a. and n.2 Obs.
Forms: 1–2 æðele, 1–3 eðele, 3 æðel, 3–4 aþel(l, 3–5 aðel(e, 5 athil, 4–5 haþel(le, 5 hathill, 6 hatell.
[Common Teut.: OE. æðele, ęðele, = OS. eđili, OFris. ethel, edel, OHG. edili, MHG. edele, mod.G., Du. edel, OTeut. *aþali-s, of good family, f. *aþal race, family: see prec. Cf. L. generōsus f. genus.]
A. adj.
1. Of persons: Noble by birth or character, eminent, illustrious, renowned.
a1000Cædmon's Gen. (Gr.) 1182 Se eorl wæs æðele. c1200Ormin 612 Nemmnedd..Affterr summ aþell mann. c1250Owl & Night. 632 Lutle children..Bothe chorles an ek athele. c1325E.E. Allit. P. B. 761 ‘Now aþel lorde,’ quoth Abraham. c1440Morte Arth. 988 One of þe hathelest of Arthur knyghtez. c1450Holland's Houlate iii. 4 (Jam.) The athil Emprour annon nycht him neir.
2. Of things, actions, etc.: Noble, excellent, splendid, fine, pleasant, ‘grand.’
a1000Cædmon's Gen. (Gr.) 1533 æðelum stencum. ― Exod. 227 æðelan cynnes. 1205Lay. 10031 Þat lond wes swiðe æðele. c1325E.E. Allit. P. B. 1276 Þat condelestik..of aþel golde. c1340Gaw. & Gr. Knt. 1654 Aþel songez.
3. Comb., as athelmod, noble-minded.
1205Lay. 23255 Walwæin wes ful aðelmod.
B. n.2 One who is noble; a lord, chief.
1205Lay. 10092 Coil þe king, þe wes Bruttene aðel. c1340Gaw. & Gr. Knt. 2056 Þe haþel..þat haldez þe heuen vpon hyȝe. c1450Gaw. & Gologras iii. 20 (Jam.) Thair wes na hathill sa heich, be half ane fute hicht. 1515Scot. Field 330 in Chetham Misc., That every hatell should him hie, in hast..To Bolton.
▪ IV. † ˈathel(e, v. Obs.
[In 13th c. aðelien, f. athel a.; cf. OE. ᵹe-aðelian, OHG. ant adaljan, MHG. edelen.]
To honour, dignify.
1205Lay. 2815 Alcne godne mon he æðelede. Ibid. 6651 Elidur..Mid muchelen ædmeden æðelede his broðer. |