Childe
nounEtymology Titular capitalization of childe.
1
UK, Historical, No plural A term of address for the eldest son of a lord or for a candidate for knighthood.
- Childe Harold
childe
nounalso spelled Childe/t͡ʃaɪld/
Etymology From Old English ċild.
1
Obsolete Obsolete form of child.
- I will that non childe of myne have any childe's parte of my goodes saving thies childer here in my will namyd, […]1524, will of William Butler of Brotton Juxta Gisburne, quoted in 1884, The Publications of the Surtees Society, page 190
- It'm I gyue & bequithe vnto my Mr iij childringe my beste coalte […] It'm I bequithe & gyue vnto yt childe yt my wiffe is wth all at this p'sente fortie […]1570, will of John Hauelocke of Newcastle upon Tyne, quoted in 1835, James Raine, William Greenwell, John Crawford Hodgson, Wills and Inventories Illustrative of the History, Manners, Language, Statistics: &c., of the Northern Counties of England, from the Eleventh Century Downwards, page 325
1 more example
- A good childe is to obey a wicked father as he is a father, [... as] children to their parents.1637, An Exposition of the Epistle of Saint Paul to the Colossians, Delivered in Sundry Sermons, by Edward Elton ... The Third Edition, Corrected and Revised. [With the Text.], page 558:
2
A child of noble birth.
3
The cognomen given to the oldest son prior to his taking his father's title.
- Childe Rowland to the dark tower came. His word was still "Fie, foh, and fum, I smell the blood of a British man."c. 1607, William Shakespeare, King Lear, act 3, scene 4
4
Fantasy A vampire who was turned by another vampire (the childe's sire) in a particular way.
- She had waded in blood and reveled in death, she had torn her enemies asunder with shadow and given their childer to the flame.1999, Kathleen Ryan, Clan Novel: Ravnos:
- Alexander, the ancient vampire who has ruled Paris for many centuries, has been deposed by his own childe, Sir Geoffrey.2003, Janet Trautvetter, Dark Ages: Toreador, page 5:
1 more example
- The blood loss involved in creating a childe takes a lot out of the vampire sire.2012, Molly Harper, Nice Girls Don't Bite Their Neighbors, page 23: