elder

Meaning

Adj

comparative degree of old: older, greater than another in age or seniority.

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. (US) An old person.
3. (in-plural, relational) 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. (Mormonism, US) One ordained to the lowest office in the Melchizedek priesthood.
8. (Mormonism, US) A male missionary.
9. (Mormonism, capitalized, often) Title for a male missionary; title for a general authority.
10. (Germanic) A pagan or Heathen priest or priestess.

Verb

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/yellow berries (some of which are poisonous).

Noun

A cow's udder, especially used as food.

🧓

old

• Adj
• Noun

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Synonyms

senior

older

elderberry

old person

old man

big

older person

superior

eldest

leader

adult

🧑

old

🧓

large

aged

important person

elderly person

father

👨‍👦

black elder

ancient

sr.

master

major

husband

🤵

higher

greater

old-timer

great

oldest

former

chief

elderberry bush

of age

ancestor

presbyter

lord

parent

patriarch

mantri

doyen

head

guru

dignitary

guardian

dean

overseer

old woman

gentleman

🤵‍♂️

deacon

bigger

oldster

Translations

sureau

aîné

Holunder

ancien

🧓

mayor

sambuco

Sambucus

maggiore

ouder

saúco

sambucus

vlier

ancião

anziano

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈeldə/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: eldre

Inherited from Old English: eldra

Cognate with Dutch: elder

In summary

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.