noun
- A member of a royal or noble family in Anglo-Saxon England; a prince or nobleman of high rank.
Usage: archaic; historical
Examples
- The atheling was groomed from childhood to rule the kingdom.
- In Anglo-Saxon times, an atheling held considerable power and prestige.
- The young atheling studied law and warfare to prepare for leadership.
- Several athelings competed for the throne after the king's death.
- The atheling's lineage traced back to the founding of the realm.