ENGLISH
REFERENCE

earle

n. countable
C2 Proficiency US //ˈɝɫ// ear·le Archaic

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 You will mostly see this spelling in very old books or historical documents.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.


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.

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