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.
Meanings
(comparative, form-of) comparative degree of old: older, greater than another in age or seniority.
It's typical for elder married couples to live in retirement homes.
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. 1913, Robert Barr, chapter 5, in Lord Stranleigh Abroad:
The elder of the two was also an elder statesman.
Closer to the dealer, i.e. receiving cards earlier than others.
The deal fell to Copling and the automaton therefore had the first "elder hand," with the advantage of a discard of five cards against its opponent's three. 1923, Ernest Bramah [pseudonym; Ernest Brammah Smith], “(please specify the page)”, in The Eyes of Max Carrados, London: Grant Richards, →OCLC:
pl starszy (greater than another in age or seniority) · ru ста́рший (greater than another in age or seniority) · cmn 年長的 /年长的 (greater than another in age or seniority) · tt олы (greater than another in age or seniority) · bg по-възрастен (greater than another in age or seniority) · osx aldāri (greater than another in age or seniority) · svs duzi (greater than another in age or seniority) · fa مهتر (greater than another in age or seniority) · ja 年上の (greater than another in age or seniority) · kw kottha (greater than another in age or seniority) · cs starší (greater than another in age or seniority) · cy henach (greater than another in age or seniority) · es adulto mayor (greater than another in age or seniority) · la senior (greater than another in age or seniority) · sk starší (greater than another in age or seniority) · pt mais antigo (greater than another in age or seniority) · zza zêde khal (greater than another in age or seniority) · de älter (greater than another in age or seniority) · nl ouder (greater than another in age or seniority) · tt олырак (greater than another in age or seniority) · pt mais idoso (greater than another in age or seniority) · ar كَابِر (greater than another in age or seniority) · no eldre (greater than another in age or seniority) · vi cả (greater than another in age or seniority) · fr aîné (greater than another in age or seniority) · tr daha yaşlı (greater than another in age or seniority) · da ældre (greater than another in age or seniority) · ja 年長の (greater than another in age or seniority) · sl starejši (greater than another in age or seniority) · fa بزرگتر (greater than another in age or seniority) · qu kuraq (greater than another in age or seniority) · it maggiore (greater than another in age or seniority) · mag 𑂇𑂧𑂱𑂩𑂏𑂩 (greater than another in age or seniority) · tr daha ihtiyar (greater than another in age or seniority) · ml മുതിർന്ന (greater than another in age or seniority) · uk ста́рший (greater than another in age or seniority) · ang ealdor (greater than another in age or seniority) · mi kaumātua (greater than another in age or seniority) · id lebih tua (greater than another in age or seniority) · eo pli maljuna (greater than another in age or seniority) · ca ancià (greater than another in age or seniority) · mag 𑂥𑂚 (greater than another in age or seniority) · ky улуу (greater than another in age or seniority) · fi vanhempi (greater than another in age or seniority) · oc ancian (greater than another in age or seniority) · es anciano (greater than another in age or seniority) · hy մեծ (greater than another in age or seniority) · eo pliaĝa (greater than another in age or seniority) · be ста́ршыl (greater than another in age or seniority) · ca anciana (greater than another in age or seniority) · pt mais velho (greater than another in age or seniority) · ka უფროსი (greater than another in age or seniority) · sv äldre (greater than another in age or seniority) · ml മൂത്ത (greater than another in age or seniority) · zza kerxiyaye (greater than another in age or seniority) · oc anciana (greater than another in age or seniority) · cy hŷn (greater than another in age or seniority)
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.
Meanings
A leader or senior member of a tribe or community, often of considerable age, respected as an authority figure, especially in a counselling, consultative, or ceremonial role.
People saw in the elders, who were closer to death, the manifestation of the divine force that was thought to achieve its full liberation at death. 1995, Julius Evola, “The Two Paths in the Afterlife”, in Guido Stucco, transl., Revolt against the Modern World, Rochester, Vermont: Inner Traditions International, translation of Rivolta contro il mondo moderno, →ISBN, page 50:
We were presented to the village elder.
At the friendship centre, you can arrange to meet with a social worker or an elder.
I probably wouldn't be here talking about this very topic if it weren't for the few but mighty elders in the tech and gender rights spaces. Folks like South Africa-based Jan Moolman from the Association for Progressive Communications[…] 2022 August 25, Seyi Akiwowo, How to Stay Safe Online: A digital self-care toolkit for developing resilience and allyship, Penguin UK, →ISBN:
Fashion elder compères his own celebration of designs revived from his archive by design director Sam Cotton[.] 2026 January 17, Lauren Cochrane, “Paul Smith reworks his past at Milan menswear salon show”, in The Guardian, →ISSN:
(US) An old person.
Treating illness among society’s elders is challenging since board-certified geriatricians (physicians trained, knowledgeable and certified in treating older patients) are in short supply, here in El Paso and throughout the country. 2022, Ruth Taber, “Opinion: We’ll be healthier and happier if we adjust our thinking about aging”, in El Paso Matters:
(in-plural, relational, with possessive determiners) One who is older than another.
Respect your elders.
One who lived at an earlier period; a predecessor.
Carry your Head[…] as your Elders have done. 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:
An officer of a church, sometimes having teaching responsibilities.
A clergyman authorized to administer all the sacraments.
a travelling elder
(obsolete, qualifier:Tyndale Bible; also puristic; Tyndale Bible; also puristic) A priest.
(Mormonism, US) One ordained to the lowest office in the Melchizedek priesthood.
Jack had been an elder for only a few days when he received a new calling.
After being a member of the Church for a while, Bill was ordained to the office of elder.
(Mormonism, US) A male missionary.
The elders are coming over for dinner tonight.
(Mormonism, capitalized, often) Title for a male missionary; title for a general authority.
One of the long-time leaders in the Church is Elder Packer.
(Germanic) A pagan or Heathen priest or priestess.
mi tūnohunohu (older member, leader of a community) · gl vedraño (old person) · ga foirfeach (older member, leader of a community) · mi pēperekōu (older member, leader of a community) · de Elder (Mormonism: title for a male missionary or a general authority) · fr aîné (old person) · de Ältester (Mormonism: one ordained to the lowest office in the Melchizedek priesthood) · be про́дак (one who lived at an earlier period — see also predecessor) · la senex (old person) · grc πρεσβύτης (officer of a church) · uk пре́док (one who lived at an earlier period — see also predecessor) · ru ста́роста (older member, leader of a community) · ko 늙은이 (old person) · id orang tua (old person) · mi kaumātua (older member, leader of a community) · af voorouer (one who lived at an earlier period — see also predecessor) · ota قوجه (older member, leader of a community) · chl 'a'aviva (old person) · ru стари́к (old person) · de Elder (Mormonism: male missionary) · ko 장로 (older member, leader of a community) · es mayor (one who is older than another) · nl ouderling (officer of a church) · fi vanhin (Mormonism: title for a male missionary or a general authority) · izh staarosta (older member, leader of a community) · ru пожило́й челове́к (old person) · tt өлкән (older member, leader of a community) · hu előd (one who lived at an earlier period — see also predecessor) · cmn 老漢 /老汉 (older member, leader of a community) · fi vanhin (officer of a church) · cy hynafgwr (older member, leader of a community) · th ผู้สูงอายุ (older member, leader of a community) · es anciano (old person) · fi edeltäjä (one who lived at an earlier period — see also predecessor) · de Älterer (one who is older than another) · ru пре́док (one who lived at an earlier period — see also predecessor) · la senex (older member, leader of a community) · de Ältere (one who is older than another) · ga sinsear (older member, leader of a community) · rif awessar (old person) · fa-ira دادْمِه (older member, leader of a community) · la prīscus (one who lived at an earlier period — see also predecessor) · ko 어른 (older member, leader of a community) · de Vorfahr (one who lived at an earlier period — see also predecessor) · ota قوجه (old person) · sh старѐшина (older member, leader of a community) · ru старе́йшина (officer of a church) · gl maior (one who is older than another) · sl starešina (older member, leader of a community) · ja 長老 (Mormonism: title for a male missionary or a general authority) · mi muanga (one who is older than another) · tt карт (older member, leader of a community) · cmn 長老 /长老 (older member, leader of a community) · af oudstes (old person) · cy blaenor (officer of a church) · sq plak (old person) · uk лі́тня (old person) · hu idős/idősebb ember (old person) · ja 年寄り (older member, leader of a community) · it antico (one who lived at an earlier period — see also predecessor) · eo grandaĝulo (old person) · mi pēperekōu (old person) · sw mzee (Mormonism: title for a male missionary or a general authority) · ca grans (old person) · he זָקֵן (older member, leader of a community) · el πρεσβύτερος (Mormonism: male missionary) · gl vedraño (older member, leader of a community) · sh старјѐшина (older member, leader of a community) · ka წინამძღოლი (older member, leader of a community) · ru старе́йшина (older member, leader of a community) · fi kylänvanhin (older member, leader of a community) · kw henavek (older member, leader of a community) · id tetua (older member, leader of a community) · ru ста́рец (old person) · it vecchio (old person) · rif tawessart (old person) · it anziano (older member, leader of a community) · el πρεσβύτερος (Mormonism: one ordained to the lowest office in the Melchizedek priesthood) · mi koroua (old person) · id lanjut usia (old person) · hu rangidős (older member, leader of a community) · sw mzee (officer of a church) · clt uvthyi (officer of a church) · luy omulosi (older member, leader of a community) · eo antikvulo (one who lived at an earlier period — see also predecessor) · grc πρεσβύτης (old person) · eo maljunulo (old person) · fr ancien (older member, leader of a community) · cs stařešina (older member, leader of a community) · de Ältester (older member, leader of a community) · gd seann-duine (old person) · clt uvthyi (older member, leader of a community) · sl starosta (older member, leader of a community) · hu presbiter (officer of a church) · ru ста́рший (one who is older than another) · it vescovo (officer of a church) · mi kuia (old person) · pt ancião (older member, leader of a community) · de Älteste (older member, leader of a community) · is öldungur (older member, leader of a community) · cmn 長老 /长老 (Mormonism: title for a male missionary or a general authority) · bn পূর্বপুরুষ (one who lived at an earlier period — see also predecessor) · cmn 長者 /长者 (older member, leader of a community) · es antepasado (one who lived at an earlier period — see also predecessor) · gd foirfeach (old person) · uk ста́роста (older member, leader of a community) · eo plejaĝulo (older member, leader of a community) · fr aîné (older member, leader of a community) · kw henavoges (older member, leader of a community) · mh aļap (older member, leader of a community) · ka ერისთავი (older member, leader of a community) · fr personne âgée (old person) · es anciana (old person) · pt anciã (older member, leader of a community) · cmn 父老 (older member, leader of a community) · ja 長老 (older member, leader of a community) · uk старі́йшина (older member, leader of a community) · fi pappi (clergyman authorized to administer all sacraments) · gd foirfeach (older member, leader of a community) · sw mzee (older member, leader of a community) · gd èildear (officer of a church) · es anciano (older member, leader of a community) · uk лі́тній (old person) · cmn 耆英 (older member, leader of a community) · cy henuriad (older member, leader of a community) · ru старе́йшина (Mormonism: title for a male missionary or a general authority) · mer mukoru (older member, leader of a community) · gd sinnsear (one who lived at an earlier period — see also predecessor) · it anziano (old person) · eo pliaĝulo (one who is older than another) · de Vorfahrin (one who lived at an earlier period — see also predecessor) · pdt Eltesta (officer of a church) · fi vanhempi (one who is older than another) · ko 장로 (officer of a church) · dng лохан (older member, leader of a community) · gl padrón (old person) · fi vanhin (older member, leader of a community) · mi tūnohunohu (old person) · th ผู้อาวุโส (older member, leader of a community) · de Seniorin (old person) · hu (nála) idősebb (one who is older than another) · fi vanhus (old person) · fi esi-isä (one who lived at an earlier period — see also predecessor) · ka ხევისბერი (older member, leader of a community) · cmn 長老 /长老 (one who lived at an earlier period — see also predecessor) · sh starèšina (older member, leader of a community) · sh starjèšina (older member, leader of a community) · ja 長老 (officer of a church) · gd foirfeach (officer of a church) · sq stërgjysh (one who lived at an earlier period — see also predecessor) · ca ancian (older member, leader of a community) · mk старешина (older member, leader of a community) · de Senior (old person)
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.
Meanings
(Quakerism) To admonish or reprove for improper conduct by the elders of the meeting.
I was eldered for directly responding to someone else's message in meeting for worship.
]
From Middle English eldre, eller, ellern, from Old English ellærn, from Proto-Germanic *elernaz, *eldernaz (compare Low German Elhorn, Elloorn).
Meanings
A small tree, Sambucus nigra, having white flowers in a cluster, and edible purple berries.
Have a tree or two the witches particularly like, such as the alder, larch, cypress and hemlock; then, to counteract any possible evil effects, there must be a holly, yew, hazel, elder, mountain ash or juniper. 1940, Rosetta E. Clarkson, Green Enchantments: The Magic Spell of Gardens, The Macmillan Company, page 273:
Any of the other species of the genus Sambucus: small trees, shrubs or herbaceous perennials with red, purple, or white and yellow berries (some of which are poisonous).