Gilden

/ˈɡɪldən/ adjective

Definition

Made of gold or covered with gold; golden (archaic or poetic form).

Etymology

From Old English 'gylden,' from 'gold.' This is an archaic or poetic variant of 'golden,' showing how Old English created adjectives from metal nouns using the -en suffix (like 'wooden' from 'wood').

Kelly Says

English used to have way more -en adjectives—'brazen,' 'wooden,' 'golden'—but we've mostly stopped making new ones. 'Gilden' is a beautiful relic of when -en was productive, and seeing it reminds us that 'golden' was once as new-fashioned as we might say 'silvern' today.

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