eldest

[ el-dist ]

adjective

1. oldest; firstborn; of greatest age: eldest sister;

   eldest brother;

   eldest sister;

   eldest born.

eldest

/ ˈɛldɪst /

adjective

1. being the oldest, esp the oldest surviving child of the same parents

Word History and Origins

Origin of eldest¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English eldesta, superlative of eald, ald; old

Word History and Origins

Origin of eldest¹

Old English eldesta, superlative of eald old

Example Sentences

My eldest child had the good fortune to be in a small program within her public school, open to all until the spaces were filled, that solved much of the differentiation problem.

From Los Angeles Times

After training as a motor woman, the eldest daughter had her first deployment on Hebridean Isles.

From BBC

His eldest daughter is engaged to be married.

From BBC

He was accompanied by his eldest sister Maryanne Trump Barry, a US federal judge, who has regularly visited her cousins on Lewis.

From BBC

His eldest first took part at age 1½ and his youngest at 3 months old.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• earlier