ealdorman

or eal·der·man

[ awl-der-muhn ]

/ ˈɔl dər mən /

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noun, plural eal·dor·men.Obsolete.

obsolete spellings of alderman.

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

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Words nearby ealdorman

eaglet, eaglewood, eagre, EAK, Eakins, ealdorman, Ealing, EAM, Eames, Eames chair, -ean

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

How to use ealdorman in a sentence

All of which the ealdorman spoke to me of, but neither Erpwald nor Elfrida knew that war was in the air.
A Prince of Cornwall|Charles W. Whistler
Presently with the quiet of knowing all done that might be done on us, the ealdorman and I went down to his house.
A Prince of Cornwall|Charles W. Whistler
Still, you were then but the landless house-carle captain, and yet you dared to look up to the daughter of the ealdorman.
A Prince of Cornwall|Charles W. Whistler
Our lord-lieutenant corresponds to the ealdorman of other days, and the present sheriff to the ancient shire-reeve.
Devonshire|Francis A. Knight

Sometimes he will give land to an under-king or to an ealdorman, for they also have souls and may desire salvation.
Domesday Book and Beyond|Frederic William Maitland

British Dictionary definitions for ealdorman

ealdorman

/ (ˈɔːldəmən) /

noun plural -men

an official of Anglo-Saxon England, appointed by the king, who was responsible for law, order, and justice in his shire and for leading his local fyrd in battle

Word Origin for ealdorman

Old English ealdor lord + man

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