elder

My elder brother just got married.

The elder of the two was also an elder statesman.

She removed Stranleigh’s coat with a dexterity that aroused his imagination. The elder woman returned with dressings and a sponge, which she placed on a chair.

1913, Robert Barr, chapter 5, in Lord Stranleigh Abroad:

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

كَابِر

idősebb (for “elder brother/sister”, see báty/nővér)

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.


elder

We were presented to the village elder.

People saw in the elders, who were closer to death, the manifestation of the divine force that was thought to achieve its full liberation at death.

1995, Julius Evola, “The Two Paths in the Afterlife”, in Guido Stucco, transl., Revolt against the Modern World, Rochester, Vermont: Inner Traditions International, translation of Rivolta contro il mondo moderno, →ISBN, page 50:

I probably wouldn't be here talking about this very topic if it weren't for the few but mighty elders in the tech and gender rights spaces. Folks like South Africa-based Jan Moolman from the Association for Progressive Communications[…]

2022 August 25, Seyi Akiwowo, How to Stay Safe Online: A digital self-care toolkit for developing resilience and allyship, Penguin UK, →ISBN:

A leader of a community, of great age or seniority.

Respect your elders.

(relational, chiefly in the plural) One who is older than another.

Carry your Head[…] as your Elders have done.

1692, Roger L’Estrange, “ (please specify the fable number.) (please specify the name of the fable.)”, in Fables, of Æsop and Other Eminent Mythologists: […], London: […] R[ichard] Sare, […], →OCLC:

One who lived at an earlier period; a predecessor.

An officer of a church, sometimes having teaching responsibilities.

a travelling elder

A clergyman authorized to administer all the sacraments.

At the friendship centre, you can arrange to meet with a social worker or an elder.

(Canada) An older Indigenous person respected as an authority figure, especially when in a counselling, consultative, or ceremonial role.

After being a member of the Church for a while, Bill was ordained to the office of elder.

Jack had been an elder for only a few days when he received a new calling.

(US, Mormonism) One ordained to the lowest office in the Melchizedek priesthood.

The elders are coming over for dinner tonight.

One of the long-time leaders in the Church is Elder Packer.

(Mormonism, often capitalized) Title for a male missionary; title for a general authority.

(Germanic paganism) A pagan or Heathen priest or priestess.

voorouer

one who lived at an earlier period — see also predecessor

pappi

clergyman authorized to administer all sacraments

Ältester

Mormonism: one ordained to the lowest office in the Melchizedek priesthood

長老

Mormonism: title for a male missionary or a general authority


elder

I was eldered for directly responding to someone else's message in meeting for worship.

(Quakerism) To admonish or reprove for improper conduct by the elders of the meeting.

en-verb

elder (third-person singular simple present elders, present participle eldering, simple past and past participle eldered)

elders (present singular third-person)
eldering (participle present)
eldered (participle past)
eldered (past)


elder

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.

1940, Rosetta E. Clarkson, Green Enchantments: The Magic Spell of Gardens, The Macmillan Company, page 273:

Sambucus nigra
Sambucus nigra#Translingual

A small tree, Sambucus nigra, having white flowers in a cluster, and edible purple berries.

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).

Wikispecies
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Etymology tree
Middle English eldre
English elder
From Middle English eldre, eller, from Old English ellærn, from Proto-Germanic *elernaz, *eldernaz (compare Low German Elhorn, Elloorn).


elder

Perhaps from Proto-Germanic *aliþro (“udder”), from *alaną (“to nourish”). Cognate with dialectal Dutch elder (“udder”).