elder
1
[ el-der ]
/ ˈɛl dər /
adjective a compar. of old with eldest as superl.
noun
Origin of elder
1Words nearby elder
Definition for elder (2 of 3)
elder
2
[ el-der ]
/ ˈɛl dər /
noun
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.
Origin of elder
2
before 900; Middle English
eldre, elrene, ellerne, Old English
ellærn; cognate with Middle Low German
ellern
Definition for elder (3 of 3)
old
[ ohld ]
/ oʊld /
adjective, old·er, old·est or eld·er, eld·est.
noun
Origin of old
before 900; Middle English; Old English
eald, ald; cognate with Dutch
old, German
alt, Gothic
altheis; akin to Old Norse
ala to nourish
SYNONYMS FOR old
1
Old,
aged,
elderly all mean well along in years. An
old person has lived long, nearly to the end of the usual period of life. An
aged person is very far advanced in years, and is usually afflicted with the infirmities of age. An
elderly person is somewhat old, but usually has the mellowness, satisfactions, and joys of age ahead.
9 olden, early.
OTHER WORDS FROM old
old·ness, nounExample sentences from the Web for elder
British Dictionary definitions for elder (1 of 4)
elder
1
/ (ˈɛldə) /
adjective
born earlier; senior
Compare older
(in piquet and similar card games) denoting or relating to the nondealer (the elder hand), who has certain advantages in the play
archaic
- prior in rank, position, or office
- of a previous time; former
noun
Derived forms of elder
eldership, nounWord Origin for elder
Old English
eldra, comparative of
eald
old; related to Old Norse
ellri, Old High German
altiro, Gothic
althiza
usage for elder
The word
elder is being increasingly used, as a more respectful way of referring to older people:
elder care,
elder abuse
British Dictionary definitions for elder (2 of 4)
elder
2
/ (ˈɛldə) /
noun
Also called: elderberry
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
any of various unrelated plants, such as box elder and marsh elder
Compare
alder
Word Origin for elder
Old English
ellern; related to Old Norse
elrir, Old High German
erlīn, Old Slavonic
jelǐcha, Latin
alnus
British Dictionary definitions for elder (3 of 4)
Elder
/ (ˈɛldə) /
noun
Sir Mark Philip. born 1947, British conductor; musical director of the English National Opera (1979–93) and of the Hallé Orchestra from 2000
British Dictionary definitions for elder (4 of 4)
old
/ (əʊld) /
adjective
noun
an earlier or past time (esp in the phrase of old)
in days of old
Derived forms of old
oldish, adjective oldness, nounWord Origin for old
Old English
eald; related to Old Saxon
ald, Old High German, German
alt, Latin
altus high
usage for old
Many people nowadays prefer to talk about
older people rather than
old people, and the phrase
the old is best avoided altogether
Idioms and Phrases with elder
old