1. A high-ranking official or nobleman in Anglo-Saxon England, typically governing a shire or region on behalf of the king.
Usage: archaic; historical

Examples

• The ealdorman of Wessex commanded the local militia during the Viking raids.
• King Alfred appointed trusted ealdormen to govern the shires and collect taxes.
• The ealdorman held both military and administrative authority in his region.
• By the 10th century, the role of ealdorman had become increasingly powerful and hereditary.
• The ealdorman answered directly to the king and served as his representative in the shire.