English Explanatory Dictionary

elder

English dictionary entry

Meanings

adj
  1. comparative degree of old: older, greater than another in age or seniority.
  2. Closer to the dealer, i.e. receiving cards earlier than others.
noun
  1. 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.
  2. An old person.
  3. One who is older than another.
  4. One who lived at an earlier period; a predecessor.
  5. An officer of a church, sometimes having teaching responsibilities.
  6. A clergyman authorized to administer all the sacraments.
  7. One ordained to the lowest office in the Melchizedek priesthood.
  8. A male missionary.
  9. Title for a male missionary; title for a general authority.
  10. A pagan or Heathen priest or priestess.
verb
  1. To admonish or reprove for improper conduct by the elders of the meeting.
noun
  1. A small tree, Sambucus nigra, having white flowers in a cluster, and edible purple berries.
  2. 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).
noun
  1. A cow's udder, especially used as food.
name
  1. A surname.

Pronunciation

/ˈeldə/ /ˈɛldə/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-elder.wav /ˈɛldɚ/ /ˈɛldəɹ/

Word forms

elder elders eldering eldered Yelder

Etymology

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.

Synonyms

geriatric long in the tooth on in years senior mzee forerunner eld antecessor black elder

Antonyms

junior younger

Related words

alder

Derived words

elder abuse elderate eldercare eldercide elderdom elderfather elder-gun elderhood elderish elderly eldermother elder orphan eldership elderspeak elder statesman elder stateswoman elderwed eldress fore-elder village elder black elder box elder box elder maple Chinese elder dwarf elder elderberry elder-blow elderbush elderflower eldern elderwood ground elder marsh elder salt marsh elder yellow elder

Translations

Chinese Mandarin: 長老 /长老 Finnish: vanhin German: Elder Japanese: 長老 Russian: старе́йшина Swahili: mzee
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