ellen

ellen · noun¹

1. Proto-Germanic · inherited from*aljaną“zeal, power, courage”
2. Proto-West Germanic · inherited from*alljan
3. Old English · inherited fromellen“zeal, strength, power, vigor, valor, courage, fortitude, strife, contention”
4. Middle English · inherited fromelne
5. English todayellen

From Middle English elne, ellen, from Old English ellen (“zeal, strength, power, vigor, valor, courage, fortitude, strife, contention”), from Proto-West Germanic *alljan, from Proto-Germanic *aljaną (“zeal, power, courage”). Cognate with Middle High German ellen (“strength, manhood”), Middle Low German ellen (“strength, power, courage, vigor, bravery”), Icelandic elja (“endurance, energy”).

Ellen · proper noun²

1. Ancient Greek · derived fromἙλένη
2. English todayEllen

Medieval English variant of Helen, from Ancient Greek Ἑλένη (Helénē); also used as a variant of Eleanor or a feminine counterpart to Elliot.

Words from the same roots