adj
olden
OHL-dn
adj
1
Belonging to an earlier, often romanticized, era; used mainly in the phrase "olden days".
"Grandad loved telling stories about the olden days."
verb
1
To become old or take on an aged appearance.
"His face seemed to olden overnight after the news."
How to Use Olden
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA slightly poetic or old-fashioned way to say "of long ago" — mostly survives in the set phrase "the olden days".
When to use it
The adjective is mostly limited to "olden days/times"; the verb use is rare and literary.
Word Forms
oldened past tense, Oldens plural, oldens singular
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Etymology
From Middle English olden, originally a form of "old" that later came to be read as "old" plus the suffix "-en".