An Etymological Dictionary of the German Language/Annotated/edel

by Friedrich Kluge

edel, adjective, ‘of noble birth or qualities, excellent, generous,’ from Middle High German ędel, ędele, Old High German ędili (adal-), adjective, ‘of a good family, noble, high-minded’; a derivative of Adel, Old High German adal. Compare Old Saxon ęðili (aðal-), ‘of a good family, noble,’ from aðali, ‘noble family,’ Anglo-Saxon œðele, ‘noble, distinguished.’ For details see Adel.