n. 1. A member of the municipal legislative body in a town or city in many jurisdictions. 2. A member of the higher branch of the municipal or borough council in England and Ireland before 1974. 3. a. A noble of high rank or authority in Anglo-Saxon England. b. The chief officer of a shire in Anglo-Saxon England. [Middle English, a person of high rank, from Old English ealdorman : ealdor, elder, chief (from eald, old; see al-2 in the Appendix of Indo-European roots) + man, man; see MAN.] alder·man·cy (-sē) n. al′der·manic (-mănĭk) adj. |
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