elder
1[ el-der ]
/ ˈɛl dər /
adjective a compar. of old with eldest as superl.
noun
Words nearby elder
Origin of elder
1Definition for elder (2 of 3)
elder2
[ 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
2before 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, nounDictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for elder
British Dictionary definitions for elder (1 of 4)
elder1
/ (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
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)
elder2
/ (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, adjectiveoldness, 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
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
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.