elder

== English == === Pronunciation === (General Australian) IPA(key): /ˈeldə/ (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˈɛldə/ (General American) IPA(key): /ˈɛldɚ/ (Scotland) IPA(key): /ˈɛldəɹ/ Rhymes: -ɛldə(ɹ) Hyphenation: el‧der === Etymology 1 === 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. ==== Adjective ==== elder comparative degree of old: older, greater than another in age or seniority. ===== Usage notes ===== The normal comparative of old is older. The form elder is usually used in reference to the more senior of two individuals, (except in fixed expressions such as elder statesman). Elder is generally limited to attributive position (my elder brother) and does not occur in predicative position (My brother is older/*elder). This also implies that elder cannot be followed by than. ===== Synonyms ===== geriatric, long in the tooth, on in years; see also Thesaurus:elderly ===== Translations ===== ==== Noun ==== elder (plural elders) 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. (now chiefly US) An old person. (relational, chiefly in the plural, chiefly with possessive determiners) One who is older than another. One who lived at an earlier period; a predecessor. An officer of a church, sometimes having teaching responsibilities. A clergyman authorized to administer all the sacraments. (US, Mormonism) One ordained to the lowest office in the Melchizedek priesthood. (US, Mormonism) A male missionary. (Mormonism, often capitalized) Title for a male missionary; title for a general authority. (Germanic paganism) A pagan or Heathen priest or priestess. ===== Synonyms ===== (older person): eld, mzee, senior; see also Thesaurus:old person (one who lived at an earlier period): antecessor, forerunner; see also Thesaurus:predecessor ===== Translations ===== ==== Verb ==== elder (third-person singular simple present elders, present participle eldering, simple past and past participle eldered) (Quakerism) To admonish or reprove for improper conduct by the elders of the meeting. ==== Derived terms ==== === Etymology 2 === From Middle English eldre, eller, ellern, from Old English ellærn, from Proto-Germanic *elernaz, *eldernaz (compare Low German Elhorn, Elloorn). ==== Noun ==== elder (plural elders) 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 and yellow berries (some of which are poisonous). ===== Synonyms ===== (Sambucus nigra): black elder ===== Derived terms ===== ===== Translations ===== ===== See also ===== alder (Alnus spp.) === Etymology 3 === Perhaps from Proto-Germanic *aliþro (“udder”), from *alaną (“to nourish”). Cognate with dialectal Dutch elder (“udder”). ==== Noun ==== elder A cow's udder, especially used as food. === References === “elder”, in Collins English Dictionary, 2011–present. === Anagrams === Edler == Basque == === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /elder/ [el̪.d̪er] Rhymes: -elder, -er Hyphenation: el‧der === Noun === elder inan slime == Norwegian Bokmål == === Verb === elder present of elde == Norwegian Nynorsk == === Noun === elder f indefinite plural of elde === Verb === elder present of elda == Old Swedish == === Alternative forms === ᚽᛚᚦᚽᚱ === Etymology === From Old Norse eldr, from Proto-Germanic *ailidaz. === Noun === elder m fire a skin disease - possibly erysipelas ==== Declension ==== ==== Descendants ==== Swedish: eld