51Թ

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View synonyms for

elder

1

[el-der]

adjective

  1. of greater age; older.

    Antonyms:
  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

/ ˈɛə /

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

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

elder

2

/ ˈɛə /

noun

  1. 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

  2. any of various unrelated plants, such as box elder and marsh elder

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Elder

3

/ ˈɛə /

noun

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

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Usage

The word elder is being increasingly used, as a more respectful way of referring to older people: elder care , elder abuse
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Other 51Թ Forms

  • ˈˌ󾱱 noun
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51Թ 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 æ; cognate with Middle Low German ellern
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51Թ 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 ī, Old Slavonic ǐ, Latin alnus
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Synonym Study

See older.
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

With darkness falling, it was Mrs Mbasana's worst nightmare when Anele called to say his elder brother had not been allowed aboard.

From

Let’s hope the elder Pullman’s Lone Starr has eased into retirement and Pullman the Younger gets to play a younger version of the Luke Skywalker-scented hero.

From

What “Homework” does best is keep these possibilities open while never having an answer for whether the elder Dyer’s annual ceremony with the Cadbury box was an act of love.

From

The 19-year-old midfielder had garnered interest from across Europe but it is Dortmund, former home of elder brother Jude, who are set to secure his signature.

From

The original custodians and teachers of Sona were women - and there are still community elders alive who remember how it works.

From

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When To Use

What does elder mean?

Elder describes something or someone older. For example, if you have two sons, one is the elder son (the older one, born first) and one is the junior son (the younger one, born second).Elder also describes being of higher rank, or more senior.An elder is an old person. Old might depend on who you ask. To a 5-year-old child, a 50-year-old person might seem old, while to an 80-year-old, that 50-year-old is young. However, elder always means someone older than you.An elder is also an influential person in a community, often a ruler or part of a committee of rulers, and often older or more senior than most people in the community.An elder is also a tree in the honeysuckle family. Elderflowers and elderberries come from an elder tree.Example: Of the queen’s two daughters, the elder became queen, while the younger became a great warrior.

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eldelderberry