eldest

[ el-dist ]

/ ˈɛl dɪst /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR eldest ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective a superl. of old with elder as compar.

oldest; first-born; of greatest age: eldest brother; eldest sister; eldest born.

Origin of eldest

before 900; Middle English; Old English eldesta, superlative of ( e)ald old

Words nearby eldest

elder stateswoman, elderberry, eldercare, elderhostel, elderly, eldest, eldest hand, eldo, eldon, eldr, eldred

Definition for eldest (2 of 2)

old

[ ohld ]

/ oʊld /

adjective, old·er, old·est or eld·er, eld·est.

far advanced in the years of one's or its life: an old man; an old horse; an old tree.

of or relating to the latter part of the life or term of existence of a person or thing: old age.

as if or appearing to be far advanced in years: Worry had made him old.

having lived or existed for a specified time: a man 30 years old; a century-old organization.

having lived or existed as specified with relation to younger or newer persons or things: Jim is our oldest boy.

having been aged for a specified time: This whiskey is eight years old.

having been aged for a comparatively long time: old brandy.

long known or in use: the same old excuse.

overfamiliar to the point of tedium: Some jokes get old fast.

belonging to the past: the good old days.

having been in existence since the distant past: a fine old family.

no longer in general use: This typewriter is an old model.

acquired, made, or in use by one prior to the acquisition, making, or use of something more recent: When the new house was built, we sold the old one.

of, relating to, or originating at an earlier period or date: old maps.

prehistoric; ancient: There may have been an old land bridge between Asia and Alaska.

(initial capital letter) (of a language) in its oldest known period, as attested by the earliest written records: Old Czech.

experienced: He's an old hand at welding.

of long standing; having been such for a comparatively long time: an old and trusted employee.

(of colors) dull, faded, or subdued: old rose.

deteriorated through age or long use; worn, decayed, or dilapidated: old clothes.

Physical Geography. (of landforms) far advanced in reduction by erosion or the like.

sedate, sensible, mature, or wise: That child seems old beyond his years.

(used to indicate affection, familiarity, disparagement, or a personalization): good old Bob; that dirty old jalopy.

Informal. (used as an intensive) great; uncommon: a high old time.

former; having been so formerly: a dinner for his old students.

noun

(used with a plural verb) old persons collectively (usually preceded by the): appropriations to care for the old.

a person or animal of a specified age or age group (used in combination): a class for six-year-olds; a horse race for three-year-olds.

old or former time, often time long past: days of old.

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.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR old ON THESAURUS.COM

ANTONYMS FOR old

1 young.

SEE ANTONYMS FOR old ON THESAURUS.COM

OTHER WORDS FROM old

old·ness, noun

Example sentences from the Web for eldest

“I thought about throwing myself down a flight of stairs or have my eldest daughter pounce on top of me,” she said.

Women Share Their Secret Abortion Stories For 1 in 3 Campaign |Brandy Zadrozny |November 20, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
The film traces the legacy of the Abiola family, particularly Hafsat Abiola, the eldest daughter of Kudirat and MKO.

The Nigerian Women Who Fight for Democracy |Nina Strochlic |October 1, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
As the eldest sister she has played a huge role raising the other girls and her 12-year-old brother.

Hanifa's Story: Her Five Sisters Taken by ISIS to Be Sold or Worse |Christine van den Toorn |August 19, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
His father turned to the person he trusted most: his eldest son.

When the Son of Hamas Spied for Israel |Nina Strochlic |August 5, 2014 |DAILY BEAST

Her eldest son, an 18-year-old, is being held separately as an adult in a detention center.

‘We Cannot Return to Guatemala’: An Immigrant Mother’s Plea |Sarah Moga |July 24, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Owing to circumstances, the eldest lad had to be sent to school at an early age.

The Power of Womanhood, or Mothers and Sons |Ellice Hopkins
He wore an enormous broad-brimmed hat and emerald-green earrings, and looked considerably younger than his eldest son, Francesco.

New Italian sketches |John Addington Symonds
François-antoine Habeneck (the eldest of three brothers of this name) was born at Mezières, June 1st, 1781.

The Violin |George Dubourg
The eldest son is named Herv, in memory of his mother's father, and he follows his father Christian's profession of printer.

The Pocket Bible or Christian the Printer |Eugne Sue
The first, who was also the eldest, could not walk without the support of one of his fellow-prisoners.

History of the Reformation in the Sixteenth Century, Volume V |J. H. Merle d'Aubigné

British Dictionary definitions for eldest (1 of 2)

eldest

/ (ˈɛldɪst) /

adjective

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

Word Origin for eldest

Old English eldesta, superlative of eald old

British Dictionary definitions for eldest (2 of 2)

old

/ (əʊld) /

adjective

having lived or existed for a relatively long time an old man; an old tradition; old wine; an old house; an old country

of or relating to advanced years or a long lifeold age
(as collective noun; preceded by the)the old
old and young people of all ages

decrepit or senile

worn with age or use old clothes; an old car

(postpositive) having lived or existed for a specified perioda child who is six years old
(in combination)a six-year-old child
(as noun in combination)a six-year-old

(capital when part of a name or title) earlier or earliest of two or more things with the same name the old edition; the Old Testament; old Norwich

(capital when part of a name) designating the form of a language in which the earliest known records are written Old English

(prenominal) familiar through long acquaintance or repetition an old friend; an old excuse

practised; hardened old in cunning

(prenominal often preceded by good) cherished; dear: used as a term of affection or familiarity good old George

informal (with any of several nouns) used as a familiar form of address to a person old thing; old bean; old stick; old fellow

skilled through long experience (esp in the phrase an old hand)

out-of-date; unfashionable

remote or distant in origin or time of origin an old culture

(prenominal) former; previous my old house was small

(prenominal) established for a relatively long timean old member
(in combination)old-established

sensible, wise, or mature old beyond one's years

(of a river, valley, or land surface) in the final stage of the cycle of erosion, characterized by flat extensive flood plains and minimum relief See also youthful (def. 4), mature (def. 6)

(intensifier) (esp in phrases such as a good old time, any old thing, any old how, etc)

(of crops) harvested late

good old days an earlier period of time regarded as better than the present

little old informal indicating affection, esp humorous affection my little old wife

the old one or the old gentleman informal a jocular name for Satan

noun

an earlier or past time (esp in the phrase of old) in days of old

Derived forms of old

oldish, adjective oldness, noun

Word 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 eldest

old

In addition to the idioms beginning with old

old as Adam
old chestnut
old college try, the
old saw
old shoe
old stamping ground
old story, an
old wives' tale

also see:

any old
chip off the old block
comfortable as an old shoe
dirty joke (old man)
get the air (old heave-ho)
no fool like an old fool
of old
ripe old age
same old story
settle a score (old scores)
stamping ground, old
teach an old dog new tricks
up to one's old tricks

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

eldest

adjective a superl. of old with elder as compar.

Origin of eldest

Words nearby eldest

Definition for eldest (2 of 2)

adjective, old·er, old·est or eld·er, eld·est.

noun

Origin of old

SYNONYMS FOR old

ANTONYMS FOR old

OTHER WORDS FROM old

Example sentences from the Web for eldest

British Dictionary definitions for eldest (1 of 2)

adjective

Word Origin for eldest

British Dictionary definitions for eldest (2 of 2)

adjective

noun

Derived forms of old

Word Origin for old

usage for old

Idioms and Phrases with eldest

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

eldest

adjective a superl. of old with elder as compar.

Origin of eldest

Words nearby eldest

Definition for eldest (2 of 2)

adjective, old·er, old·est or eld·er, eld·est.

noun

Origin of old

SYNONYMS FOR old

ANTONYMS FOR old

OTHER WORDS FROM old

Words related to eldest

Example sentences from the Web for eldest

British Dictionary definitions for eldest (1 of 2)

adjective

Word Origin for eldest

British Dictionary definitions for eldest (2 of 2)

adjective

noun

Derived forms of old

Word Origin for old

usage for old

Idioms and Phrases with eldest