Etymology Explorer › Old English

Where does “æþel” come from?

æþel (Old English) comes from Old English æþele, from Proto-Germanic aþalaz, from Proto-Germanic aþalą, from Proto-Indo-European at-al, from Proto-Indo-European h₂el- — to grow, nourish; beyond, other; to wander, roam.

æþel (Old English): homeland, ancestral territory; noble, a person of...

Definitions

  1. homeland, ancestral territory; noble, a person of...

Ancestry of “æþel”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Old Englishæþelenoble
2Proto-Germanicaþalaznoble
3Proto-Germanicaþaląnature, disposition; nobility, race
4Proto-Indo-Europeanat-alfamily, race
5Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂el-to grow, nourish; beyond, other; to wander, roam

Words derived from “æþel”

  • Audrey
  • Aylmer
  • Alwin
  • ethel
  • Alewine
  • athel
  • atheldom
  • Audrey
  • ethel
  • hathel
  • Æþelþryþ
  • Æþelwine
  • Audrey
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂el- →