eald

Eald is an Old English adjective meaning old or ancient. In Early English texts, it is used to describe things of age, antiquity, or senior status, and it appears both as a standalone descriptor and within compound forms.

A well-known compound is ealdorman, formed from eald and man, which denoted a high-ranking official in Anglo-Saxon kingdoms who acted as judge, administrator, and military leader. The term reflects the social value placed on seniority and established authority in early English governance.

Etymology and cognates: Eald derives from Proto-Germanic *aldaz. Its cognates across Germanic languages include Old High German alt, Dutch oud, and German alt, all meaning “old” or “ancient.” In modern English, the historical word survives primarily in scholarly discussion of Old English and in various compound forms, which illuminate the language’s development.

Contemporary usage: Today, eald is largely archaic outside academic contexts. It appears in linguistic descriptions of Old English and in discussions of ancient institutions, and it may occasionally appear in fantasy or world-building as a stylistic or historical flavor. It is not used as a standard modern English word.