atheling

or aeth·el·ing

[ ath-uh-ling, ath- ]

nounEarly English History.

a man of royal blood; a prince.

Origin of atheling

First recorded before 1000; Middle English; Old English ætheling (cognate with Old High German ediling, adalung, Old Saxon ethiling ), equivalent to æthel(u) “noble family” (cognate with Old High German adoul, German Adel, Old Saxon athal(i), Old Norse athal “nature”; akin to Tocharian atäl “man”) + -ing noun suffix; see -ing³

Words Nearby atheling

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use atheling in a sentence

atheling, a title of honour among the Anglo-Saxons, meaning one who is of noble blood.
The New Gresham Encyclopedia. Vol. 1 Part 2 | Various
His espousal of the cause of Edgar the atheling led the Conqueror to regard him with suspicion.
The Cathedral Church of Canterbury [2nd ed.]. | Hartley Withers
He will of course make inquiries, and I wonder what Mrs. atheling and Kate will say.
I, Thou, and the Other One | Amelia Edith Huddleston Barr
On that afternoon she called at the Athelings, and found Mrs. and Miss atheling out.
I, Thou, and the Other One | Amelia Edith Huddleston Barr
Young atheling is a fine talker when he has to face a mob of grumbling men on a Yorkshire moor or a city common.
I, Thou, and the Other One | Amelia Edith Huddleston Barr

British Dictionary definitions for atheling

atheling

/ (ˈæθɪlɪŋ) /

noun

(in Anglo-Saxon England) a prince of any of the royal dynasties

Origin of atheling

Old English ætheling, from æthelu noble family + -ing ³; related to Old High German adaling, Old Norse öthlingr

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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