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Definition of olden

olden

/ˈoʊl.dən/
ol · den
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olden Lexical Profile

olden Game Scores & Validity

• adjective

1

Relating to a former or ancient era; of long ago (used almost exclusively before nouns such as "days" or "times").

Example

"The museum exhibit featured hand-forged agricultural tools used by farmers in the olden days."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for olden
Antonyms
View all antonyms for olden

Word Nuance & Usage

"Olden" is an attributive-only adjective (always placed directly before a noun) and is restricted in modern English almost exclusively to the fixed expressions "olden days" and "olden times."

• Rhymes for olden

• Nearby Words

olallieberry
old
old man
olden
oldie
oldish
oldman river

Word Origin & Etymology

Originating in Middle English as olden, this word preserves an old dative plural inflection (-en) of the Old English adjective eald ("old"), which became fossilized in phrases referring to past times.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Olden. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/olden
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