eald

Old English

Alternative forms

• ald, eold, æld, eld

Etymology

From Proto-Germanic *aldaz (“grown-up”) (corresponding to Latin altus), each from Proto-Indo-European *altós, *h₂eltós, a suffixed form of *al- (“grow, nourish”), *h₂el-. Cognate with Old Frisian ald (West Frisian âld), Old Saxon ald (Low German old), Dutch oud, Old High German alt (German alt). Compare also Ancient Greek ἄναλτος (ánaltos).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /æ͜ɑld/, [æ͜ɑɫd]

Adjective

eald (comparative ieldra, superlative ieldest)

1. old

   Hū eald eart þū?

   How old are you?

   Þās sċōs sind ealde and forwerede.

   These shoes are old and worn out.

   ealdwīf ― an old woman

2. ancient

   ealdriht ― ancient right

   ealdsprǣċ ― history; proverb, byspel

   ealdwrītere ― writer of ancient history, antiquarian

   ealdwearg ― accursed from ancient times

3. (in compounds) original

   Ealdseaxan ― the continental Saxons

Declension

Declension of eald — Strong

Singular	Masculine	Feminine	Neuter
Nominative	eald	eald	eald
Accusative	ealdne	ealde	eald
Genitive	ealdes	ealdre	ealdes
Dative	ealdum	ealdre	ealdum
Instrumental	ealde	ealdre	ealde
Plural	Masculine	Feminine	Neuter
Nominative	ealde	ealda, ealde	eald
Accusative	ealde	ealda, ealde	eald
Genitive	ealdra	ealdra	ealdra
Dative	ealdum	ealdum	ealdum
Instrumental	ealdum	ealdum	ealdum

Declension of eald — Weak

Singular	Masculine	Feminine	Neuter
Nominative	ealda	ealde	ealde
Accusative	ealdan	ealdan	ealde
Genitive	ealdan	ealdan	ealdan
Dative	ealdan	ealdan	ealdan
Instrumental	ealdan	ealdan	ealdan
Plural	Masculine	Feminine	Neuter
Nominative	ealdan	ealdan	ealdan
Accusative	ealdan	ealdan	ealdan
Genitive	ealdra, ealdena	ealdra, ealdena	ealdra, ealdena
Dative	ealdum	ealdum	ealdum
Instrumental	ealdum	ealdum	ealdum

Derived terms

• ealdnes

Descendants

• Middle English: ald, eald, eld, old
  • English: old
  • Scots: auld
  • Yola: yola, yolaw