elder
See also: Elder
English
Pronunciation
- (General Australian) IPA(key): /ˈeldə/
- (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˈɛldə/
Audio (UK) (file) - (General American) IPA(key): /ˈɛldɚ/
- Rhymes: -ɛldə(ɹ)
Etymology 1
From Middle English eldre, from Old English eldra, yldra, ieldra, from Proto-Germanic *alþizô. The vowel change from a to e triggered by the following i is called umlaut or I-mutation.
Adjective
elder
- comparative degree of old: older, greater than another in age or seniority.
- The elder of the two was also an elder statesman
- 1913, Robert Barr, chapter 5, in Lord Stranleigh Abroad:
- She removed Stranleigh’s coat with a dexterity that aroused his imagination. The elder woman returned with dressings and a sponge, which she placed on a chair.
Usage notes
- The normal comparative of old is older. The irregular form elder is sometimes used with family members, but is otherwise rare (except in fixed expressions such as elder statesman). Elder is generally limited to attributive position (my elder brother) and does not occur in predicative position (*my brother is elder). This also implies that elder cannot be followed by than.[1]
Synonyms
- geriatric, long in the tooth, on in years; see also Thesaurus:elderly
Translations
greater than another in age or seniority
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Noun
elder (plural elders)
- An older person.
- A leader of some community.
- We were presented to the village elder.
- One who lived at an earlier period; a predecessor.
- 1692, Roger L’Estrange, “ (please specify the fable number.) (please specify the name of the fable.)”, in Fables, of Æsop and Other Eminent Mythologists: […], London: […] R[ichard] Sare, […], →OCLC:
- Carry your Head […] as your Elders have done.
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- An officer of a church, sometimes having teaching responsibilities.
- A clergyman authorized to administer all the sacraments.
- a travelling elder
- (Canada) An older Indigenous person respected as an authority figure, especially when in a counselling, consultative, or ceremonial role.
- At the friendship centre, you can arrange to meet with a social worker or an elder.
- (US, Mormonism) One ordained to the lowest office in the Melchizedek priesthood.
- After being a member of the Church for a while, Bill was ordained to the office of elder.
- Jack had been an elder for only a few days when he received a new calling.
- (US, Mormonism) Male missionary.
- The elders are coming over for dinner tonight.
- (Mormonism, often capitalized) Title for a male missionary; title for a general authority.
- One of the long-time leaders in the Church is Elder Packer.
- (Germanic paganism) A pagan or Heathen priest or priestess.
Synonyms
- (older person): eld, mzee, senior; see also Thesaurus:old person
- (one who lived at an earlier period): antecessor, forerunner; see also Thesaurus:predecessor
Translations
old person
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older member, leader of a community
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one who is older than another
one who lived at an earlier period — See also translations at predecessor
officer of a church
Mormonism: one ordained to the lowest office in the Melchizedek priesthood
Mormonism: male missionary
Mormonism: title for a male missionary or a general authority
Germanic paganism: pagan priest or priestess
Verb
elder (third-person singular simple present elders, present participle eldering, simple past and past participle eldered)
Derived terms
Derived terms
- elderdom
- elderhood
- elderly
- eldership
- elder statesman
- elder stateswoman
- fore-elder
Etymology 2

Sambucus nigra
From Middle English eldre, eller, from Old English ellærn, from Proto-Germanic *elernaz, *eldernaz (compare Low German Elhorn, Elloorn).
Noun
elder (plural elders)
- A small tree, Sambucus nigra, having white flowers in a cluster, and edible purple berries
- Any of the other species of the genus Sambucus: small trees, shrubs or herbaceous perennials with red, purple, or white/yellow berries (some of which are poisonous).
Synonyms
- (Sambucus nigra): black elder
Derived terms
Translations
Sambucus nigra
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Sambucus
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- The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.
Etymology 3
Perhaps from Proto-Germanic *aliþro (“udder”), from *alaną (“to nourish”). Cognate with dialectal Dutch elder (“udder”).[2]
References
- Treble, H. A. An A.B.C. of English Usage. American ed. New York: Oxford University Press, 1937, page 133
- “elder”, in OED Online
, Oxford, Oxfordshire: Oxford University Press, launched 2000.
Anagrams
Basque
Norwegian Bokmål
Norwegian Nynorsk
Old Swedish
Etymology
From Old Norse eldr, from Proto-Germanic *ailidaz.
Declension
Descendants
- Swedish: eld
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