See Also: box elder(encyclopedia)
elder(medicine)
elder(dictionary)
elder(encyclopedia)
elder(2)(dictionary)
elder(1)(dictionary)
Elder, John(encyclopedia)
Pliny the Elder(dictionary)
elder (as used in expressions)(encyclopedia)
Pliny the Elder(encyclopedia)

elder(1) (iou)



elder adjective & noun2.

A. adjective.
Earlier-born (of two related or indicated persons, esp. children or siblings). Freq. after possess. pronoun OE.
I. Murdoch He turned to her..as to a mother or an elder sister. J. Gross The elder Gosse was a naturalist.
gen. Older. Now only attrib., without than. arch. OE.
Shakespeare Merchant of Venice How much more elder art thou than thy looks?
Ancient; of or pertaining to ancient or earlier times. LME.
Southey Huge as the giant race of elder times.
Of or pertaining to the later period of a person's life. L16-M18.
(Of an obligation, right, or title) of longer standing, prior; (of an official etc.) of longer service, senior. M17-M18.
Special collocations & comb.: Elder Brother, pl. Elder Brethren, each of thirteen senior members of Trinity House. elder-brotherly adjective pertaining to or appropriate to an elder brother. elder hand the person in a card-game for two who is first to be dealt to and therefore begins the play. elder-sisterly adjective pertaining to or appropriate to an elder sister. elder statesman (a) any of the Japanese statesmen who mainly directed the evolution of Japan in the late 19th cent.; (b) a person of ripe years and experience whose opinions are respected.
b. noun.
The elder person (of two), esp. the elder child or sibling. Usu. after the or possess. pronoun OE.
E. B. Browning My cousin..; My elder by a few years. D. H. Lawrence They were pale mites, the elder about ten years old.
A parent; an ancestor; a predecessor. Usu. in pl. OE-E17.
A person who is older than another who is indicated. Usu. in pl. after possess. pronoun LME.
W. Bronk Children..are shocked by things their elders do unthinking.
b. An old person. L16.
Now chiefly Hist. & Anthropology. A (usu. male) person having authority because of advanced age; a member of a governing body or class consisting of men chosen for their age and experience. LME.
P. Gallico A sweet and gentle people presided over by a tall, stately elder. T. Keneally Tribal elders, who..knew where the soul-stones of each man were hidden.
Ecclesiastical. An official or minister in the early Church and in various Protestant, esp. Presbyterian, denominations; US dial. a minister of any denomination. LME.
lay elder: see LAY adjective. PRESIDING elder. Ruling Elder: see RULING adjective.
b. A member of the Society of Friends responsible for the organization and conduct of meetings for worship. E18.
elderhood noun the position of an elder, seniority; a body of elders: L16.

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