noun

der Adel, null

nobility

Eine Gruppe von Menschen aus reichen und alten Familien, die früher oft besondere Rechte und viel Macht hatten.

Definition & meaning

The German word Adel refers to the nobility or aristocracy. It describes a social class that historically held hereditary titles, land, and privileges, often occupying the highest ranks in a social hierarchy.

There are two primary ways the term is used:

The collective group: It refers to the nobility as a whole, the group of people belonging to the noble class (e.g., "The nobility gathered at the court").
Noble qualities: In a metaphorical or moral sense, it can describe a certain nobility of character, meaning high-mindedness, dignity, or moral excellence (e.g., "He acted with great nobility").

Grammar & Word origin

Grammar: Adel is a masculine noun (der Adel). It is generally used in the singular and does not have a standard plural form in modern German, as it functions as a collective noun.
Word origin: The word stems from the Old High German word adal, which means "noble descent," "kin," or "lineage." It is related to the word Edel , which acts as the adjective form meaning "noble." The term shares a root with the Old English æthel (as seen in names like Ethelred).