ethel

E1T1H4E1L1
/ˈɛθ.əl//ˈɛθɪl/

noun

The rune ᛟ.

“For quotations using this term, see Citations:ethel.”

Similar
Less commonScrabble 8

Meanings

ethel1

noun

alternative œthel

  1. The rune ᛟ.
  2. The name of the Latin script letter Œ/œ.
adjective
  1. obsoleteNoble.

    […] that he was of a doughty and ethel stirp. His ayle and eam had both been bellipotent; […]

    1856, Samuel Klinefelter Hoshour, Letters to Squire Pedant, in the East, page 33
    2 more examples

    The violation of an ethel born or noble woman was paid for by a higher murde than that of an un-ethel or common person. The murder of all persons was in like manner paid for by a were or were-geld, nicely adjusted to their relative rank.

    1861, Henry Brougham, The British Constitution: Its History, Structure, and Working, page 140

    "I have come to seek your counsel in your most ethel of ethical capacities. My problem is wholly mechanical."

    1921, The Judge, page 5

ethel2

nounethel (plural ethels)

plural ethels

  1. alternativeAlternative form of athel (“tamarisk”).

    For quotations using this term, see Citations:ethel.

Ethel3

proper noun

alternative Ethyl

  1. A female given name from Old English, popular at the turn of the 20th century.

    If it is so false, and base, and hollow, this great world […] why does Ethel Newcome cling to it? Will you be fairer, dear, with any other name than your own?

    1855, William Makepeace Thackeray, The Newcomes, Bradbury and Evans, page 95
    2 more examples

    Charmian Lyle had given herself her first name at the age of sixteen, upon encountering it in an English novel. Her baptismal name was Ethel. When her husband Walter was extremely angry with her, he called her Ethel. Charmian, she thought, suited her much better. She didn't think she looked, felt, or sounded like Ethel. Nor like her middle name, which she really detested, Edna.

    1979, Mary McMullen, But Nellie Was So Nice, Doubleday, page 23

    Two of Kennedy’s sons, Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and Douglas Kennedy, supported the release during Sirhan’s 16th appearance before the California Parole Board. But other family members, including RFK’s widow Ethel, felt Sirhan should remain imprisoned.

    2022 January 13, Jake Tapper and Cheri Mossburg, “California Gov. Gavin Newsom denies parole for RFK assassin Sirhan Sirhan”, in CNN, archived from the original on 14 Jan 2022
  2. A number of places in the United States:

Synonyms & antonyms

Similar

Origin

ethel · noun, adjective

  1. Old Englishǣþel
  2. Middle Englishethel
  3. Englishethel

Learned borrowing from Middle English ethel, from Old English ǣþel, ēþel.

Full word history & related roots →

Ethel · proper noun

Short form of names of Old English origin beginning with Ethel-, æþele (“noble”). First used in the 19th century. Cognate to the Germanic Adela and Adele.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Bulgarian одал, одал
  • одал (odal)name of the Latin letter (Œ, œ)
  • одал (odal)name of the Futharc rune
Danish Edel
  • Edelfemale given name
French e dans l'o
  • e dans l'oname of the Latin letter (Œ, œ)
German oe-Ligatur
  • oe-Ligaturname of the Latin letter (Œ, œ)
Hawaiian ʻEkela
  • ʻEkelafemale given name
Japanese エセル
  • エセル (eseru)female given name
Norwegian Edel
  • Edelfemale given name
Polish Ethel
  • Ethelfemale given name
Russian одал, одал
  • одал (odal)name of the Latin letter (Œ, œ)
  • одал (odal)name of the Futharc rune
Swedish Edla
  • Edlafemale given name

Rhymes & wordplay

Rhymes with ethel

All rhymes →

Sounds the same

ethyl (one pronunciation)

Anagrams

Cite this entry
APA

ethel. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ethel

MLA

“ethel.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ethel. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “ethel,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ethel.

Source: ethel on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.