[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/olden/)

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# olden

adjective (olden — used before a noun, mostly in «olden days» and «olden times»)

«olden» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

Olden means belonging to the long-ago past; «in the olden days» means a long time ago. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/olden/#m1)

### In the lessons

In everyday talk children and grandparents say «in the olden days» about life before phones, cars or electricity. In history lessons it is a friendly, informal way to say «in the past». Phrases: «in the olden days», «olden times».

### Examples

- In the olden days, people washed clothes by hand. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/olden/#x1)
- Grandad says in the olden days there were only three TV channels. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/olden/#x2)
- Children in olden times walked miles to school. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/olden/#x3)
- We dressed up as children from the olden days. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/olden/#x4)
- In olden days candles lit every house. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/olden/#x5)
- «Was that in the olden days, Gran?» [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/olden/#x6)
- The olden times were not like the times we live in. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/olden/#x7)

### Note

Almost only used in «olden days» or «olden times». Old-fashioned, informal and a bit playful; in a history essay say «in the past» or give the date. «Olden days» can be vague: be clear which time you mean.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «olden» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/olden/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«olden» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/olden.html) on Mova free.