eldership

== English == === Etymology === From elder +‎ -ship. The Lithuanian sense is a calque of Lithuanian seniūnija. === Pronunciation === enPR: ĕlʹdərshĭp, IPA(key): /ˈɛldɚʃɪp/ === Noun === eldership (countable and uncountable, plural elderships) The position of being elder or senior; seniority, precedence of birth, primogeniture. (Can we verify(+) this sense?) (nonce word, as a mock title of honour) The personality of an elderly person. The office or position of elder in a church. The collective body of (ecclesiastical) elders; a body or court of elders, a presbytery. (Can we verify(+) this sense?) The smallest administrative division in Lithuania, equivalent to a ward. Synonym: elderate === Further reading === James A. H. Murray et al., editors (1884–1928), “Eldership”, in A New English Dictionary on Historical Principles (Oxford English Dictionary), volume III (D–E), London: Clarendon Press, →OCLC, page 73, column 2.