English Explanatory Dictionary

ellen

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. Zeal.
  2. Strength; courage.
  3. Strength vouchsafed; comfort; grace.
name
  1. A female given name from Ancient Greek.
  2. A river in Cumberland district, Cumbria, England, that flows into the Solway Firth at Maryport.

Pronunciation

/ˈɛl.ən/ /ˈɛl.ɪn/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-Ellen.wav

Word forms

ellen elne Ellens

Etymology

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”).

Derived words

Ellenburg Port Ellen
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