Word
earle
Phoneticsear·le
/ˈɝɫ/
Definition
n. an old way of spelling 'earl', which is a high-ranking title for a nobleman in Britain. You will mostly see this spelling in very old books or historical documents.
n. an archaic variant spelling of the noble title 'earl'. Refers to a member of the peerage ranking below a marquess and above a viscount.
Examples
“The old document mentions the Earle of Warwick.”
“In the 16th-century manuscript, the title was consistently spelled as Earle rather than the modern Earl.”
“Scholars of early modern English often encounter the spelling Earle in personal correspondence and legal charters dating back to the Elizabethan era.”
Examples
simple
“The old document mentions the Earle of Warwick.”
contextual
“In the 16th-century manuscript, the title was consistently spelled as Earle rather than the modern Earl.”
complex
“Scholars of early modern English often encounter the spelling Earle in personal correspondence and legal charters dating back to the Elizabethan era.”
Usage
Archaic spelling; in modern English, 'earl' is the standard form.