An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Adel

by Friedrich Kluge

Adel, m., ‘nobility,’ from MidHG. adel, m., n., ‘lineage, noble lineage, noble rank, perfection,’ OHG. adal, n. (and edili, n.), ‘lineage, esp. noble lineage’; corresponding to OSax. aðali, n., ‘body of nobles, notables, nobility,’ Du. adel, AS. œðelu, n. plur., ‘noble birth,’ OIc. aƀal, ‘disposition, talent, lineage.’ In Goth. the stem aþ (by gradation ôþ) is wanting; to it belong OHG. uodil, n., ‘patrimony, home’ (ModHG. Ulrich, from OHG. Uodalrîch or Uhland, from Uodal-lant), OSax. ôðil, AS. éðel, m., ‘patrimony, home.’ Hence the fundamental idea of the Teut. root aþ, by gradation ôþ (from Aryan ăt), seems to be ‘by transmission, inheritance.’ The aristocratic tinge evinced by the West Teut. cognates is not remarkable when we consider the early period; only the patrician had a ‘family’; genealogies of nobles (in old documents) reach back to the OTeut. period; the names beginning with Adel are primitive, Alfons, influenced by Rom. from OHG. Adalfuns, Adalheid, Adalberaht, Adolf, from Atha-ulf; also the deriv. OHG. Adalung. See too Adler, edel.