eldest

[el-dist]

adjective

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

   eldest brother;

   eldest sister;

   eldest born.

eldest

/ ˈɛldɪst /

adjective

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of eldest¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of eldest¹

Old English eldesta, superlative of eald _old

Example Sentences

"I dreamed of finishing school and becoming a doctor," said the eldest of five siblings who, according to the law, should be in school until the age of 16.

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Helena , the eldest of Odeh’s three daughters, said she thinks about her father all the time.

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Biden himself lost his eldest son, Beau, to brain cancer in 2015.

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Earlier this year, Lutnick handed his ownership of Cantor Fitzgerald to trusts benefiting his adult children, and his two eldest sons were named chairman and executive vice chairman of the firm.

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It simply did not matter whether one was born white or black, male or female, Jew or Gentile, in wedlock or out, eldest or youngest, or born to citizen parents or alien parents.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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