elderdom

Meanings

1. Authority; dominion.
2. Preeminence; superiority.
3. The authority, rule, or office of an elder.
4. The state of being an elder, or of being older; elderhood.
5. The role or influence of an elder or elders.

Etymology

From Middle English *elderdom, alderdom, from Old English ealdordōm (“greatness, power, authority, lordship, eldership, rule, dominion, magistracy, principality, superiority, preeminence, primacy, government, any official position involving command of others, beginning”), equivalent to elder + -dom. Cognate with West Frisian âlderdom (“eld, old age, antiquity”), German Altertum (“antiquity”), Swedish ålderdom (“eld, age”).