athel

English

Alternative forms

athil, athill, hathill, hathel
aethel, æthel

Etymology

From Middle English athel, hathel (“noble", also "nobleman, hero”), from Old English æþele (“noble, eminent, aristocratic, excellent, famous, glorious, splendid, fine, costly, valuable, vigorous, lusty, young, pleasant, sweet-smelling, natural, congenial, suitable”), from Proto-Germanic *aþalaz, *aþaljaz, *aþiluz (“noble, of noble birth”), from Proto-Indo-European *Àtos (“father”), *atta (“mother”). Akin to Old Frisian eþel, Dutch edel, German edel. Middle English form hathel due to conflation with Old English hæleþ (“hero”). See heleth.