alderman: [OE] Alderman preserves the notion that those who are old (the ‘elders’) are automatically in charge. In Anglo-Saxon England the ealdor was the chief of a family or clan, by virtue of seniority (the word is based on the adjective eald ‘old’). Alderman (Old English ealdorman) was a political title or rank adopted probably in the early 8th century for someone who exercised in society at large an authority equivalent to that of the ealdor.
In effect, this meant that an alderman acted as a sort of viceroy to the king in a particular district. In the 12th century the title became applied to the governor of a guild, and as the guilds gradually took over some functions of local government, an alderman became a senior councillor. The title was officially abolished in Britain in 1974. => old
alderman (n.)
Old English aldormonn (Mercian), ealdormann (West Saxon) "ruler, prince, chief; chief officer of a shire," from aldor, ealder "patriarch" (comparative of ald "old;" see old) + monn, mann "man" (see man (n.)). A relic of the days when the elders were automatically in charge of the clan or tribe, but already in Old English used for king's viceroys, regardless of age. The word yielded in Old English to eorl, and after the Norman Conquest to count (n.). Meaning "headman of a guild" (early 12c.) passed to "magistrate of a city" (c. 1200) as the guilds became identified with municipal government.
雙語例句
1. After a full hearing, the alderman gave it as his opinion.
參事先生聽了全部報告之后,說出了他的意見.
來自辭典例句
2. Michael Alderman is a mond of among the critics.
邁克爾·奧德曼也是反對者之一.
來自互聯(lián)網(wǎng)
3. The alderman's son was found guilty of abusing special privileges.
郡長的兒子被判犯有濫用特權(quán)之罪.
來自互聯(lián)網(wǎng)
4. The alderman had hunderds of people at his feet.
數(shù)以百計的人都拜倒在這位議員的權(quán)勢之下.
來自互聯(lián)網(wǎng)
5. A $ 10 , 000 bond was furnished by an alderman.