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Meaning of elder in English

Table of contents
  1. Pronunciation
  2. Classifying Adjective
    1. Definitions
  3. Noun
    1. Etymology
    2. Definitions
  4. Qualitative Adjective
    1. Etymology
    2. Definitions
  1. Pronunciation

    /ˈɛldər/

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  1. Classifying Adjective

    elder

    Definitions

    1. used of the older of two persons of the same name especially used to distinguish a father from his son

    Examples

    • « Bill Adams, Sr. »

    Synonyms

    • senior
  2. Noun

    elder

    Etymology

    Old English ellærn; related to Middle Low German ellern, elderne

    Definitions

    1. a person who is older than you are
  3. 2. any of numerous shrubs or small trees of temperate and subtropical northern hemisphere having white flowers and berrylike fruit
  4. 3. any of various church officers
  5. Qualitative Adjective

    elder

    Etymology

    Old English ieldra, eldra, of Germanic origin; related to German älter, also to eld and old

    Definitions

    1. older brother or sister

    Examples

    • « big sister »

    Antonyms

    • little(a)
    • younger

Famous quotes

  • « Travel, in the younger sort, is a part of education in the elder, a part of experience. »
    Francis Bacon
  • « Clearly older women and especially older women who have led an active life or elder women who successfully maneuver through their own family life have so much to teach us about sharing, patience, and wisdom. »
    Alice Walker
  • « If you wish to succeed in life, make perseverance your bosom friend, experience your wise counselor, caution your elder brother, and hope your guardian genius. »
    Joseph Addison
  • « As an elder of the Americas and of the rest of the planet, it is my responsibility to care for and protect, to the best of my ability, the young. »
    Alice Walker
  • « Fact: The new '90210' is cooler than the old '90210.' It's the lithe, streamlined Skipper to the elder series' venerable Barbie. Gone are the traditional parents - they've been replaced by a hipster mom n' pop who get busted necking in the car. »
    Diablo Cody

Browse dictionary

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