An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/Alter

by Friedrich Kluge

Alter, neuter, ‘age, antiquity,’ from Middle High German alter, Old High German altar, neuter, ‘age, old age’ (opposed to youth); compare the corresponding Old Saxon aldar, ‘life, time of life,’ Anglo-Saxon ealdor, ‘life,’ Old Icelandic aldr, ‘age, hoary age,’ Gothic *aldra-, in framaldrs, ‘of advanced age, in years.’ An abstract term formed from the root al, ‘to grow up, bring forth,’ mentioned under alt, and the suffix -tro- frequent in Greek and Latin. See further cognates under Welt.