adjective,a comparative of old, with eldest as superlative.
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.
Origin of elder
1
First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English eldra, comparative of eald, ald; see old
ANTONYMS FOR elder
1 younger.
SEE ANTONYMS FOR elder ON THESAURUS.COM
synonym study for elder
1. See older.
WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH elder
elder , older (see synonym study at older)
Words nearby elder
Elche, El Cid Campeador, El Cordobés, eld, Eldepryl, elder, elderberry, Elder Brethren, eldercare, elder hand, Elderhostel
Definition for elder (2 of 2)
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
2
First recorded before 900; Middle English eldre, elrene, ellerne,Old English ellærn; cognate with Middle Low German ellern
In this country, everything is disposable and expendable, and our elders are one of the greatest resources we have in this country and in the world.
Debbie Allen’s Grandmother Love Doubled|Joi-Marie McKenzie|September 11, 2020|Essence.com
Mallott took the stage, talking about his youth in Southeast Alaska and the importance of elders and youths working together to improve safety, security and respect.
The Woman Propositioned by Alaska’s Former Lieutenant Governor Tells Her Story for the First Time|by Kyle Hopkins and Michelle Theriault Boots, Anchorage Daily News|September 10, 2020|ProPublica
An elder sister whose eyes were always forlorn had revealed that her husband used to whip her and that she had even thought of ending her life.
The Teenager Breaking Up Child Marriages, Door to Door|Pallabi Munsi|September 2, 2020|Ozy
After the game, the elder Thompson intercepted a reporter’s question about the shirts directed at his son.
John Thompson’s Unapologetic Blackness Changed College Basketball|Santul Nerkar|September 1, 2020|FiveThirtyEight
Nursing homes and other elder care facilities have needed to change since well before coronavirus.
Covid-19 will permanently change senior living|Quartz Staff|July 29, 2020|Quartz
“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 3)
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
an older person; one's senior
anthropola 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 of elder
eldership, noun
Word Origin for elder
Old English eldra, comparative of ealdold; 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 3)
elder2
/ (ˈɛldə) /
noun
Also called: elderberryany 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 3)
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