elderdom

== English == === Etymology === From Middle English *elderdom, alderdom, from Old English ealdordōm (“greatness, power, authority, lordship, eldership, rule, dominion, magistracy, principality, superiority, preeminence, primacy, government, any official position involving command of others, beginning”), equivalent to elder +‎ -dom. Cognate with West Frisian âlderdom (“eld, old age, antiquity”), German Altertum (“antiquity”), Swedish ålderdom (“eld, age”). === Noun === elderdom (uncountable) Authority; dominion. Preeminence; superiority. The authority, rule, or office of an elder. The state of being an elder, or of being older; elderhood. 2010, Janis Abrahms Spring, Ph.D., Janis Abrahms Spring, Michael Spring, Life with Pop: Lessons on Caring for an Aging Parent: Thanks to him, I have a better sense of what it takes to morph gracefully into elderdom. The role or influence of an elder or elders. ==== Related terms ==== elder eldership === Anagrams === moldered, remolded