elder

¹

[ el-der ]

adjective

1. of greater age; older.

   Antonyms: younger

2. of higher rank; senior:

   an elder officer.

3. of or relating to former times; earlier:

   Much that was forbidden by elder custom is accepted today.

noun

1. a person who is older or higher in rank than oneself.
2. an aged person.
3. an influential member of a tribe or community, often a chief or ruler; a superior.
4. a presbyter.
5. (in certain Protestant churches) a lay member who is a governing officer, often assisting the pastor in services.
6. Mormon Church. a member of the Melchizedek priesthood.

elder

²

[ el-der ]

noun

1. any tree or shrub belonging to the genus Sambucus, of the honeysuckle family, having pinnate leaves, clusters of white flowers, and red or black, berrylike fruit.

elder

¹

/ ˈɛldə /

adjective

1. born earlier; senior Compare older
2. (in piquet and similar card games) denoting or relating to the nondealer (the elder hand ), who has certain advantages in the play
3. archaic.
   1. prior in rank, position, or office
   2. of a previous time; former

noun

1. an older person; one's senior
2. anthropol a senior member of a tribe who has influence or authority
3. (in certain Protestant Churches) a lay office having teaching, pastoral, or administrative functions
4. another word for presbyter

Elder

²

/ ˈɛldə /

noun

1. ElderSir Mark Philip1947MBritishMUSIC: conductor Sir Mark Philip. born 1947, British conductor; musical director of the English National Opera (1979–93) and of the Hallé Orchestra from 2000

elder

³

/ ˈɛldə /

noun

1. Also calledelderberry any of various caprifoliaceous shrubs or small trees of the genus Sambucus, having clusters of small white flowers and red, purple, or black berry-like fruits
2. any of various unrelated plants, such as box elder and marsh elder

Usage

The word elder is being increasingly used, as a more respectful way of referring to older people: elder care , elder abuse

Derived Forms

• ˈelderˌship, noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of elder¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English eldra, comparative of eald, ald; old

Origin of elder²

First recorded before 900; Middle English eldre, elrene, ellerne, Old English ellærn; cognate with Middle Low German ellern

Word History and Origins

Origin of elder¹

Old English eldra, comparative of eald old ; related to Old Norse ellri, Old High German altiro, Gothic althiza

Origin of elder²

Old English ellern; related to Old Norse elrir, Old High German erlīn, Old Slavonic jelǐcha, Latin alnus

Synonym Study

See older.

Example Sentences

"When I heard that this was a Christian organisation - I’m an elder in the Presbyterian Church - I got hold of my pastor and we got hold of the Baptist Church Methodist Church and two other churches in the city and then I was instructed by those churches to investigate the matter," he said.

From BBC

So he brought artists, executives and elder black American statesmen together for a secret summit in 1995, hoping it would be a turning point.

From BBC

“Marriage gives spouses the benefit of many legal presumptions and protections with regards to each other’s property and affairs. An unmarried partner, on the other hand, is at a much worse position than even an estranged child or sibling in a situation where the other partner has died or has become incapacitated,” said Joseph Fresard, elder law attorney at Simasko Law in Mount Clements, Michigan.

From Salon

Behind him, flanking a rolltop desk, were framed pictures of two sets of brothers: John F. and Robert F. Kennedy, and Schiff and his elder sibling, Dan.

From Los Angeles Times

"Our young people in Don Dale need to have opportunity for hope," said Aboriginal elder, Aunty Barb Nasir, addressing the demonstrators.

From BBC

Related Words

• older