alderman
noun/ˈɔːldəmən/
/ˈɔːldərmən/
(plural aldermen
/ˈɔːldəmən/
/ˈɔːldərmən/
)- (in England and Wales in the past) a senior member of a town, borough or county council, below the rank of a mayor, chosen by other members of the council
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- (feminine alderwoman(in the US, Canada and Australia) an elected member of a town or city council/ˈɔːldəwʊmən//ˈɔːldərwʊmən/, plural alderwomen/ˈɔːldəwɪmɪn//ˈɔːldərwɪmɪn/)
- Alderman Tim Evans
Word OriginOld English aldormann (originally in the general sense ‘a man of high rank’), from aldor, ealdor ‘chief, patriarch’ (from ald ‘old’) + man. Later the sense ‘warden of a guild’ arose; then, as the guilds became identified with the ruling municipal body, ‘local magistrate, municipal officer’.
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