An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/alt

by Friedrich Kluge

alt, adj., from the equiv. MidHG. and OHG. alt, adj. ‘old’; the corresponding OSax. ald, AS. eald, E. old, have the same meaning; Goth. alþeis (instead of the expected form *alda-), ‘old.’ The West Teut. form al-da- is an old tó- participle (Lat. al-tus, ‘high’), like other ModHG. adjs. (see under falt), and belongs to Goth. alan, ‘to grow up,’ OIc. ala, ‘to bring forth’ (primit. related to Lat. alo. OIr. alim, ‘I nourish’), therefore lit. ‘grown up.’ Hence perhaps it was used orig. and chiefly in reckoning age, &c. (comp. Lat. X annos natus), but afterwards it was also used at an early period in an absolute sense, ‘vetus.’ See Alter, Eltern.