notabel

Notabel is a term found in several Germanic languages, used as an adjective meaning notable, remarkable, or of importance. In historical Dutch and Flemish contexts, the related noun forms notabele and notabelen referred to a class of prominent citizens—often urban leaders such as guild masters, merchants, councillors, or other figures who exercised influence in town governance. The notables typically formed a distinct social and political layer within a city, sometimes advising the municipal government or guiding civic affairs. The concept reflects how certain communities distinguished respected individuals who played a key role in local life during the medieval and early modern periods.

Etymology and cognates: Notabel derives from Middle Dutch notabele, itself from Latin notabilis, meaning “worthy of note.” The word has cognates in other Germanic languages and has influenced similar terms in neighboring linguistic traditions. In modern usage, the term is largely historical or literary in Dutch, with notabele more commonly appearing as a noun for a notable person rather than as a general adjective.

Usage notes: In contemporary Dutch, notabel as a standalone adjective is rare outside historical or scholarly writing. The term is sometimes employed in historical fiction or genealogical contexts to evoke past civic structures and social hierarchies. In other languages, the word with similar roots may carry equivalent meanings related to prominence or distinction.

See also: Notability, Notable person, Notable figure, Notable (general term).