Al"der*man (&add;l"d&etilde;r*man), n.; pl. Aldermen (&?;).
[AS. aldormon, ealdorman; ealdor
an elder + man. See Elder, n.]
1. A senior
or superior; a person of rank or dignity. [Obs.]
&fist; The title was applied, among the Anglo-Saxons, to princes, dukes,
earls, senators, and presiding magistrates; also
to archbishops and bishops,
implying superior wisdom
or authority. Thus Ethelstan, duke of the East-Anglians, was called Alderman of all England; and there were aldermen of cities, counties, and castles, who had jurisdiction within their respective
districts.
3. One of a board or body of municipal officers next in order to the mayor and
having a legislative function.
They may, in
some cases, individually exercise
some magisterial and administrative
functions.
Hear it pronounced