atheling
1
9.9
A prince or noble in early English history who could become king
- noun
- /ˈæθəˌlɪŋ/
- Archaic
:
atelingo
- The young atheling was trained in the arts of war and governance from an early age.
Examples
-
As the last surviving atheling of his lineage, he was seen as the rightful heir to the throne.
-
The council gathered to discuss the future of the realm, with the noble atheling at the center of their deliberations.
-
Found within it the atheling, band asleep after feasting and fearless of sorrow.
Fiction book (1999) -
Bearded atheling embraces Monkey.
Fiction book (1991)
Synonyms
306
4.8
A man who has a noble title and may sit in the House of Lords
is a royal person eligible for kingship rather than a mere titled peer
noble
vsatheling
42
5.3
A person from a high social family with a title
is a royal figure eligible to become king in Anglo-Saxon England
princeling
vsatheling
1
9.3
A young prince with little real power
is an eligible royal who can inherit kingship, not a minor with no authority
Surface Forms
Etymology
Atheling comes from Old English ætheling, where æthel means 'noble' and appears in old names like Ethel-. It originally named a prince or a person who could become king, so an atheling is a royal or noble person eligible to rule.