atheling

American  

[ath-uh-ling, ath-] / ˈæθ ə lɪŋ, ˈæð- /

Or aetheling

noun

Early English History.

1. a man of royal blood; a prince.

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atheling British  

/ ˈæθɪlɪŋ /

noun

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

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Etymology

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 -ing ³

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

atheling

He wore a slightly disappointed look on his face, for he had heard so much of the atheling that he had supposed him older than this boy.

From A Maid at King Alfred?s Court by Madison, Lucy Foster

Elswitha I have not seen, for she married the king—he was the atheling then—before I was old enough to remember.

From A Maid at King Alfred?s Court by Madison, Lucy Foster

There on the bench was, Over the atheling, easy to look on The battle-steep war-helm, the byrny be-ringed, The wood of the onset, all-glorious.

From The Tale of Beowulf Sometime King of the Folk of the Weder Geats by Anonymous

"Is he Thorkel, or Thorkel's man?" answered the atheling, "for if he be, I will not see him."

From King Olaf's Kinsman A Story of the Last Saxon Struggle against the Danes in the Days of Ironside and Cnut by Whistler, Charles W. (Charles Watts)

There were a youth and a maiden there that night, but not the atheling nor his sister.

From A Maid at King Alfred?s Court by Madison, Lucy Foster