Refine this word faster
Elder
Definitions
- 1 comparative degree of old: older, greater than another in age or seniority. comparative, form-of
"It's typical for elder married couples to live in retirement homes."
- 1 used of the older of two persons of the same name especially used to distinguish a father from his son wordnet
- 1 A surname.
"Ruth Elder was known for her beauty and acting, but her real dream was to become the female version of transatlantic aviator Charles Lindbergh."
- 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.
"We were presented to the village elder."
- 2 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."
- 3 A cow's udder, especially used as food.
- 4 a person who is older than you are wordnet
- 5 An old person. US
"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."
Show 11 more definitions
- 6 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).
- 7 any of various church officers wordnet
- 8 One who is older than another. in-plural, relational
"Respect your elders."
- 9 any of numerous shrubs or small trees of temperate and subtropical Northern Hemisphere having white flowers and berrylike fruit wordnet
- 10 One who lived at an earlier period; a predecessor.
"Carry your Head[…] as your Elders have done."
- 11 An officer of a church, sometimes having teaching responsibilities.
- 12 A clergyman authorized to administer all the sacraments.
"a travelling elder"
- 13 One ordained to the lowest office in the Melchizedek priesthood. Mormonism, US
"After being a member of the Church for a while, Bill was ordained to the office of elder."
- 14 A male missionary. Mormonism, US
"The elders are coming over for dinner tonight."
- 15 Title for a male missionary; title for a general authority. Mormonism, capitalized, often
"One of the long-time leaders in the Church is Elder Packer."
- 16 A pagan or Heathen priest or priestess. Germanic
- 1 To admonish or reprove for improper conduct by the elders of the meeting. Quakerism
"I was eldered for directly responding to someone else's message in meeting for worship."
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.
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.
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.
] Etymology tree Middle English eldre English elder From Middle English eldre, eller, ellern, from Old English ellærn, from Proto-Germanic *elernaz, *eldernaz (compare Low German Elhorn, Elloorn).
Perhaps from Proto-Germanic *aliþro (“udder”), from *alaną (“to nourish”). Cognate with dialectal Dutch elder (“udder”).
See also for "elder"
Next best steps
Mini challenge
Unscramble this word: elder