eldest

American  

[el-dist] / ˈɛl dɪst /

adjective

1. oldest; firstborn; of greatest age: eldest sister;

   eldest brother;

   eldest sister;

   eldest born.

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eldest British  

/ ˈɛldɪst /

adjective

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

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Etymology

Origin of eldest

First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English eldesta, superlative of eald, ald; old

Example Sentences

Tsuruko, the eldest, stays largely offstage but exerts a crucial, conservative influence on family affairs.

From The Wall Street Journal

Derek and his eldest son pushed the bed under a small plastic skylight in the ceiling, and Javari came back with a metal bat.

From Literature

France appeared on the knee of the eldest male child on the death of each father.

From Literature

The biggest threat to the Beckhams' family brand could now come from their eldest child, whose explosive post "has ruptured it from within", Frost told BBC Radio 5 Live.

From BBC

One of the most damaging claims from the eldest son is that behind the Beckhams' carefully curated image are inauthentic relationships.

From BBC

Related Words

• earlier