Where does “alderman” come from?
Alderman comes from Middle English alderman, from Old English ealdormann, a compound of Old English ealdor- (elder) and mann (man), ultimately from Proto-Germanic mann- and Proto-Indo-European men- (to think) and al- (to grow/nourish).
alderman (English): A member of a municipal legislative body in a...
Definitions
- A member of a municipal legislative body in a...
Ancestry of “alderman”, step by step
alderman traces back through two separate lines of ancestry.
via Middle English alderman
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | alderman | A high official or dignitary; a leader |
| 2 | Old English | ealdorman | an elderman; senator, chief, duke, a nobleman of... |
| 3 | Old English | mann | person; man meaning mankind; man meaning adult... |
| 4 | Proto-West Germanic | mann | person, human |
| 5 | Proto-Germanic | *mann- | — |
| 6 | Proto-Indo-European | men- | to think, mind; spiritual activity; to stay,... |
via Middle English aldermon
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Middle English | aldermon | — |
| 2 | Old English | ealdormann | a leader, ruler, prince; a master, overseer; a... |