"alderman" meaning in Middle English

See alderman in All languages combined, or Wiktionary

Noun

IPA: /ˈaldərˌman/
Etymology: Inherited from Old English ealdorman, possibly from Proto-West Germanic *aldramann; by surface analysis, alder + man. Etymology templates: {{yesno||i|I}} I, {{glossary|Inherited}} Inherited, {{inh|enm|ang|ealdorman|||g=|g2=|g3=|id=|lit=|nocat=|pos=|sc=|sort=|tr=|ts=}} Old English ealdorman, {{inh+|enm|ang|ealdorman}} Inherited from Old English ealdorman, {{inh|enm|gmw-pro|*aldramann}} Proto-West Germanic *aldramann, {{surf|enm|alder|man|nocap=1}} by surface analysis, alder + man Head templates: {{head|enm|noun|g=|g2=|g3=|head=|sort=|var=}} alderman, {{enm-noun|aldermen}} alderman (plural aldermen) Forms: aldermen [plural], alder man [alternative], aldirman [alternative], aldreman [alternative], halderman [alternative], aldyrman [alternative], altherman [alternative], allderrmann [alternative, Ormulum], aldyrmann [alternative], alder mon [alternative]
  1. A high official or dignitary; a leader:
    The head or warden of a guild.
    Sense id: en-alderman-enm-noun-9W90j6xx Categories (other): Occupations, Offices Disambiguation of Occupations: 37 37 25 Disambiguation of Offices: 37 26 36
  2. A high official or dignitary; a leader:
    A member of a municipal legislative body.
    Sense id: en-alderman-enm-noun-PeZLZuvY Categories (other): Occupations, Offices Disambiguation of Occupations: 37 37 25 Disambiguation of Offices: 37 26 36
  3. (rare) One of the elders in the Book of Revelation. Tags: rare
    Sense id: en-alderman-enm-noun-qEvXjakL Categories (other): Middle English entries with incorrect language header, Bible, Occupations, Offices Disambiguation of Middle English entries with incorrect language header: 30 15 55 Disambiguation of Bible: 16 13 71 Disambiguation of Occupations: 37 37 25 Disambiguation of Offices: 37 26 36
The following are not (yet) sense-disambiguated
Categories (other): Government Disambiguation of Government: 0 0 0

Alternative forms

{
  "categories": [
    {
      "_dis": "0 0 0",
      "kind": "other",
      "langcode": "enm",
      "name": "Government",
      "orig": "enm:Government",
      "parents": [],
      "source": "w+disamb"
    }
  ],
  "descendants": [
    {
      "lang": "English",
      "lang_code": "en",
      "word": "alderman"
    },
    {
      "descendants": [
        {
          "lang": "Scots",
          "lang_code": "sco",
          "word": "alderman"
        }
      ],
      "lang": "Middle Scots",
      "lang_code": "gmw-msc",
      "word": "alderman"
    },
    {
      "lang": "Anglo-Norman",
      "lang_code": "xno",
      "raw_tags": [
        "borrowed"
      ],
      "word": "alderman"
    },
    {
      "lang": "Anglo-Norman",
      "lang_code": "xno",
      "raw_tags": [
        "borrowed"
      ],
      "word": "aldreman"
    },
    {
      "lang": "Welsh",
      "lang_code": "cy",
      "raw_tags": [
        "borrowed"
      ],
      "word": "aldramon"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "",
        "2": "i",
        "3": "I"
      },
      "expansion": "I",
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    {
      "args": {
        "1": "Inherited"
      },
      "expansion": "Inherited",
      "name": "glossary"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "ang",
        "3": "ealdorman",
        "4": "",
        "5": "",
        "g": "",
        "g2": "",
        "g3": "",
        "id": "",
        "lit": "",
        "nocat": "",
        "pos": "",
        "sc": "",
        "sort": "",
        "tr": "",
        "ts": ""
      },
      "expansion": "Old English ealdorman",
      "name": "inh"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "ang",
        "3": "ealdorman"
      },
      "expansion": "Inherited from Old English ealdorman",
      "name": "inh+"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "gmw-pro",
        "3": "*aldramann"
      },
      "expansion": "Proto-West Germanic *aldramann",
      "name": "inh"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "alder",
        "3": "man",
        "nocap": "1"
      },
      "expansion": "by surface analysis, alder + man",
      "name": "surf"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "Inherited from Old English ealdorman, possibly from Proto-West Germanic *aldramann; by surface analysis, alder + man.",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "aldermen",
      "tags": [
        "plural"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "alder man",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "aldirman",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "aldreman",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "halderman",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "aldyrman",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "altherman",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "allderrmann",
      "tags": [
        "alternative",
        "Ormulum"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "aldyrmann",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "alder mon",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "noun",
        "g": "",
        "g2": "",
        "g3": "",
        "head": "",
        "sort": "",
        "var": ""
      },
      "expansion": "alderman",
      "name": "head"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "aldermen"
      },
      "expansion": "alderman (plural aldermen)",
      "name": "enm-noun"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "Middle English",
  "lang_code": "enm",
  "pos": "noun",
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "_dis": "37 37 25",
          "kind": "other",
          "langcode": "enm",
          "name": "Occupations",
          "orig": "enm:Occupations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "37 26 36",
          "kind": "other",
          "langcode": "enm",
          "name": "Offices",
          "orig": "enm:Offices",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "A high official or dignitary; a leader:",
        "The head or warden of a guild."
      ],
      "id": "en-alderman-enm-noun-9W90j6xx",
      "links": [
        [
          "high",
          "high"
        ],
        [
          "official",
          "official"
        ],
        [
          "dignitary",
          "dignitary"
        ],
        [
          "leader",
          "leader"
        ],
        [
          "head",
          "head"
        ],
        [
          "warden",
          "warden"
        ],
        [
          "guild",
          "guild"
        ]
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "_dis": "37 37 25",
          "kind": "other",
          "langcode": "enm",
          "name": "Occupations",
          "orig": "enm:Occupations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "37 26 36",
          "kind": "other",
          "langcode": "enm",
          "name": "Offices",
          "orig": "enm:Offices",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "A high official or dignitary; a leader:",
        "A member of a municipal legislative body."
      ],
      "id": "en-alderman-enm-noun-PeZLZuvY",
      "links": [
        [
          "high",
          "high"
        ],
        [
          "official",
          "official"
        ],
        [
          "dignitary",
          "dignitary"
        ],
        [
          "leader",
          "leader"
        ],
        [
          "member",
          "member"
        ],
        [
          "municipal",
          "municipal"
        ],
        [
          "legislative",
          "legislative"
        ],
        [
          "body",
          "body"
        ]
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "_dis": "30 15 55",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Middle English entries with incorrect language header",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "16 13 71",
          "kind": "other",
          "langcode": "enm",
          "name": "Bible",
          "orig": "enm:Bible",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "37 37 25",
          "kind": "other",
          "langcode": "enm",
          "name": "Occupations",
          "orig": "enm:Occupations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "37 26 36",
          "kind": "other",
          "langcode": "enm",
          "name": "Offices",
          "orig": "enm:Offices",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "One of the elders in the Book of Revelation."
      ],
      "id": "en-alderman-enm-noun-qEvXjakL",
      "links": [
        [
          "elder",
          "elder"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(rare) One of the elders in the Book of Revelation."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "rare"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "ipa": "/ˈaldərˌman/"
    }
  ],
  "word": "alderman"
}
{
  "categories": [
    "Middle English compound terms",
    "Middle English entries with incorrect language header",
    "Middle English lemmas",
    "Middle English nouns",
    "Middle English terms derived from Old English",
    "Middle English terms derived from Proto-West Germanic",
    "Middle English terms inherited from Old English",
    "Middle English terms inherited from Proto-West Germanic",
    "Pages with 4 entries",
    "Pages with entries",
    "enm:Bible",
    "enm:Government",
    "enm:Occupations",
    "enm:Offices"
  ],
  "descendants": [
    {
      "lang": "English",
      "lang_code": "en",
      "word": "alderman"
    },
    {
      "descendants": [
        {
          "lang": "Scots",
          "lang_code": "sco",
          "word": "alderman"
        }
      ],
      "lang": "Middle Scots",
      "lang_code": "gmw-msc",
      "word": "alderman"
    },
    {
      "lang": "Anglo-Norman",
      "lang_code": "xno",
      "raw_tags": [
        "borrowed"
      ],
      "word": "alderman"
    },
    {
      "lang": "Anglo-Norman",
      "lang_code": "xno",
      "raw_tags": [
        "borrowed"
      ],
      "word": "aldreman"
    },
    {
      "lang": "Welsh",
      "lang_code": "cy",
      "raw_tags": [
        "borrowed"
      ],
      "word": "aldramon"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_templates": [
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        "2": "i",
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      },
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      "args": {
        "1": "Inherited"
      },
      "expansion": "Inherited",
      "name": "glossary"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "ang",
        "3": "ealdorman",
        "4": "",
        "5": "",
        "g": "",
        "g2": "",
        "g3": "",
        "id": "",
        "lit": "",
        "nocat": "",
        "pos": "",
        "sc": "",
        "sort": "",
        "tr": "",
        "ts": ""
      },
      "expansion": "Old English ealdorman",
      "name": "inh"
    },
    {
      "args": {
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        "2": "ang",
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      "expansion": "Inherited from Old English ealdorman",
      "name": "inh+"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "gmw-pro",
        "3": "*aldramann"
      },
      "expansion": "Proto-West Germanic *aldramann",
      "name": "inh"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "alder",
        "3": "man",
        "nocap": "1"
      },
      "expansion": "by surface analysis, alder + man",
      "name": "surf"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "Inherited from Old English ealdorman, possibly from Proto-West Germanic *aldramann; by surface analysis, alder + man.",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "aldermen",
      "tags": [
        "plural"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "alder man",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "aldirman",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "aldreman",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "halderman",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "aldyrman",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "altherman",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "allderrmann",
      "tags": [
        "alternative",
        "Ormulum"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "aldyrmann",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "alder mon",
      "tags": [
        "alternative"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "enm",
        "2": "noun",
        "g": "",
        "g2": "",
        "g3": "",
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        "sort": "",
        "var": ""
      },
      "expansion": "alderman",
      "name": "head"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "aldermen"
      },
      "expansion": "alderman (plural aldermen)",
      "name": "enm-noun"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "Middle English",
  "lang_code": "enm",
  "pos": "noun",
  "senses": [
    {
      "glosses": [
        "A high official or dignitary; a leader:",
        "The head or warden of a guild."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "high",
          "high"
        ],
        [
          "official",
          "official"
        ],
        [
          "dignitary",
          "dignitary"
        ],
        [
          "leader",
          "leader"
        ],
        [
          "head",
          "head"
        ],
        [
          "warden",
          "warden"
        ],
        [
          "guild",
          "guild"
        ]
      ]
    },
    {
      "glosses": [
        "A high official or dignitary; a leader:",
        "A member of a municipal legislative body."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "high",
          "high"
        ],
        [
          "official",
          "official"
        ],
        [
          "dignitary",
          "dignitary"
        ],
        [
          "leader",
          "leader"
        ],
        [
          "member",
          "member"
        ],
        [
          "municipal",
          "municipal"
        ],
        [
          "legislative",
          "legislative"
        ],
        [
          "body",
          "body"
        ]
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "Middle English terms with rare senses"
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "One of the elders in the Book of Revelation."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "elder",
          "elder"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(rare) One of the elders in the Book of Revelation."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "rare"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "ipa": "/ˈaldərˌman/"
    }
  ],
  "word": "alderman"
}

Download raw JSONL data for alderman meaning in Middle English (3.5kB)


This page is a part of the kaikki.org machine-readable Middle English dictionary. This dictionary is based on structured data extracted on 2026-09-06 from the enwiktionary dump dated 2026-09-02 using wiktextract (ccec6f1 and 4deed51). The data shown on this site has been post-processed and various details (e.g., extra categories) removed, some information disambiguated, and additional data merged from other sources. See the raw data download page for the unprocessed wiktextract data.

If you use this data in academic research, please cite Tatu Ylonen: Wiktextract: Wiktionary as Machine-Readable Structured Data, Proceedings of the 13th Conference on Language Resources and Evaluation (LREC), pp. 1317-1325, Marseille, 20-25 June 2022. Linking to the relevant page(s) under https://kaikki.org would also be greatly appreciated.