Obs. Forms: 1–2 æðele, 1–3 eðele, 3 æðel, 3–4 aþel(l, 3–5 aðel(e, 5 athil, 4–5 haþel(le, 5 hathill, 6 hatell. [Common Teut.: OE. æðele, ęðele, = OS. eđili, OFris. ethel, edel, OHG. edili, MHG. edele, mod.G., Du. edel, OTeut. *aþali-s, of good family, f. *aþal race, family: see prec. Cf. L. generōsus f. genus.]

1

  A.  adj.

2

  1.  Of persons: Noble by birth or character, eminent, illustrious, renowned.

3

a. 1000.  Cædmon’s Gen. (Gr.), 1182. Se eorl wæs æðele.

4

c. 1200.  Ormin, 612. Nemmnedd … Affterr summ aþell mann.

5

a. 1250.  Owl & Night., 632. Lutle children … Bothe chorles an ek athele.

6

c. 1325.  E. E. Allit. P., B. 761. ‘Now aþel lorde,’ quoth Abraham.

7

c. 1440.  Morte Arth., 988. One of þe hathelest of Arthur knyghtez.

8

c. 1450.  Holland’s Houlate, III. 4 (Jam.). The athil Emprour annon nycht him neir.

9

  2.  Of things, actions, etc.: Noble, excellent, splendid, fine, pleasant, ‘grand.’

10

a. 1000.  Cædmon’s Gen. (Gr.), 1533. Æðelum stencum. Ibid., Exod., 227. Æðelan cynnes.

11

c. 1205.  Lay., 70031. Þat lond wes swiðe æðele.

12

c. 1325.  E. E. Allit. P., B. 1276. Þat condelestik … of aþel golde.

13

c. 1340.  Gaw. & Gr. Knt., 1654. Aþel songez.

14

  3.  Comb., as athelmod, noble-minded.

15

c. 1205.  Lay., 23255. Walwæin wes ful aðelmod.

16

  B.  sb.2 One who is noble; a lord, chief.

17

c. 1205.  Lay., 10092. Coil þe king, þe wes Bruttene aðel.

18

c. 1340.  Gaw. & Gr. Knt., 2056. Þe haþel … þat haldez þe heuen vpon hyȝe.

19

c. 1450.  Gaw. & Gologras, II. 20 (Jam.). Thair wes na hathill sa heich, be half ane fute hicht.

20

1515.  Scot. Field, 330, in Chetham Misc. That every hatell should him hie, in hast … To Bolton.

21