elder

[ el-der ]

/ ˈɛl dər /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR elder ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective a compar. of old with eldest as superl.

of greater age; older.

of higher rank; senior: an elder officer.

of or relating to former times; earlier: Much that was forbidden by elder custom is accepted today.

noun

a person who is older or higher in rank than oneself.

an aged person.

an influential member of a tribe or community, often a chief or ruler; a superior.

a presbyter.

(in certain Protestant churches) a lay member who is a governing officer, often assisting the pastor in services.

Mormon Church. a member of the Melchizedek priesthood.

Nearby words

elbowroom, elbrus, elburz mountains, elche, eld, elder, elder brethren, elder edda, elder statesman, elder stateswoman, elderberry

Origin of elder

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

SYNONYMS FOR elder

1 See older.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR elder ON THESAURUS.COM

ANTONYMS FOR elder

1 younger.

SEE MORE ANTONYMS FOR elder ON THESAURUS.COM

Can be confused

elder older (see synonym study at older)

Definition for elder (2 of 3)

elder

[ 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

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.

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 MORE SYNONYMS FOR old ON THESAURUS.COM

ANTONYMS FOR old

1 young.

SEE MORE ANTONYMS FOR old ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

old·ness, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for elder

“Hurting others or destroying property is not the answer,” the elder Brown had said last week in a public-service video.
Darren Wilson Wasn’t Indicted—the System Was|Michael Daly|November 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He speaks of her much as he might of his elder son, the SEAL.
For Next AG, Obama Picks a Quiet Fighter With a Heavy Punch|Michael Daly|November 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
William Kristol, the editor of The Weekly Standard, was in rare agreement with the elder Paul.
Republican Hawks Already Have a War Plan for ISIS, Ukraine, and Obama|Eli Lake|November 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“I think sometimes overreaction can become very dangerous as well,” said the elder Paul.
Ebola Scare-Mongerer Rand Paul Wants You to Think You’re Going to Die|Sally Kohn|October 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Elder and the NFB have approached Uber with their own set of suggestions.
Uber and Airbnb Leave Disabled People Behind|Elizabeth Heideman|October 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The elder woman remonstrated feebly, but the girl swept her aside.
The Doomsman|Van Tassel Sutphen
My uncle had often during the previous twenty years, crossed the mountains, on trapping expeditions with an elder brother.
Christopher Carson|John S. C. Abbott
It was late at night when Elder Kinney went home from the bedside of the dying woman.
Saxe Holm's Stories|Helen Hunt Jackson
"You may call it that," retorted the elder man with a fleeting smile as Kirkwood slipped inside the dooryard.
The Black Bag|Louis Joseph Vance
It was the prevailing belief during the middle ages, that the tree on which Judas hanged himself was an elder.
The Vision and Creed of Piers Ploughman, Volume II of II|William Langland

British Dictionary definitions for elder (1 of 4)

elder

/ (ˈɛldə) /

adjective

born earlier; seniorCompare 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

an older person; one's senior

anthropol a senior member of a tribe who has influence or authority

(in certain Protestant Churches) a lay office having teaching, pastoral, or administrative functions

another word for presbyter

Derived Forms

eldership, noun

Word Origin for elder

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

usage

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

/ (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

having lived or existed for a relatively long timean 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 useold 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 namethe 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 writtenOld English

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

practised; hardenedold in cunning

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

informal (with any of several nouns) used as a familiar form of address to a personold 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 originan old culture

(prenominal) former; previousmy old house was small

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

sensible, wise, or matureold 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 reliefSee 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 affectionmy 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

oldish, adjectiveoldness, noun

Word Origin for old

Old English eald; related to Old Saxon ald, Old High German, German alt, Latin altus high

usage

Many people nowadays prefer to talk about older people rather than old people, and the phrase the old is best avoided altogether

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

Idioms and Phrases with elder

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