atheling

American  

[ath-uh-ling, ath-] / ˈæθ ə lɪŋ, ˈæð- /

Or aetheling

noun

Early English History.

1. a man of royal blood; a prince.

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atheling British  

/ ˈæθɪlɪŋ /

noun

1. (in Anglo-Saxon England) a prince of any of the royal dynasties

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Etymology

Origin of atheling

First recorded before 1000; Middle English; Old English ætheling (cognate with Old High German ediling, adalung, Old Saxon ethiling ), equivalent to æthel(u) “noble family” (cognate with Old High German adoul, German Adel, Old Saxon athal(i), Old Norse athal “nature”; akin to Tocharian atäl “man”) + -ing noun suffix; -ing ³

Example Sentences

I, too, would see the king, and what manner of man the atheling be.

From A Maid at King Alfred?s Court by Madison, Lucy Foster

“Nay, brother,” spoke Ethelfleda, who was of sterner mold than the atheling, “if the maiden hath promised it, the word should be kept.”

From A Maid at King Alfred?s Court by Madison, Lucy Foster

My father before me of folks was well-famed Van-leader and atheling, Ecgtheow he hight.

From The Tale of Beowulf Sometime King of the Folk of the Weder Geats by Anonymous

"I have three chiefs in my mind who can match these," said our atheling.

From King Olaf's Kinsman A Story of the Last Saxon Struggle against the Danes in the Days of Ironside and Cnut by Whistler, Charles W. (Charles Watts)

Much have I heard of the present atheling and his sister.

From A Maid at King Alfred?s Court by Madison, Lucy Foster