Adjacent Words

Elder definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

EL'DER, n. A species of duck.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

adj
1: used of the older of two persons of the same name especially used to distinguish a father from his son; "Bill Adams, Sr." [syn: elder, older, sr.] n
1: a person who is older than you are [syn: elder, senior]
2: any of numerous shrubs or small trees of temperate and subtropical northern hemisphere having white flowers and berrylike fruit [syn: elder, elderberry bush]
3: any of various church officers

Merriam Webster's

I. noun Etymology: Middle English eldre, from Old English ellærn; perhaps akin to Old English alor alder — more at alder Date: before 12th century elderberry 2 II. adjective Etymology: Middle English, from Old English ieldra, comparative of eald old Date: before 12th century 1. of earlier birth or greater age <his elder brother> 2. of or relating to earlier times ; former 3. archaic of or relating to a more advanced time of life 4. prior or superior in rank, office, or validity III. noun Date: before 12th century 1. one living in an earlier period 2. a. one who is older ; senior <a child trying to please her elders> b. an aged person 3. one having authority by virtue of age and experience <the village elders> 4. any of various officers of religious groups: as a. presbyter 1 b. a permanent officer elected by a Presbyterian congregation and ordained to serve on the session and assist the pastor at communion c. minister 2 d. a leader of the Shakers e. a Mormon ordained to the Melchizedek priesthood • eldership noun

Oxford Reference Dictionary

1. adj. & n. --attrib.adj. (of two indicated persons, esp. when related) senior; of a greater age (my elder brother). --n. (often prec. by the) 1 the older or more senior of two indicated (esp. related) persons (which is the elder?; is my elder by ten years). 2 (in pl.) a persons of greater age or seniority (respect your elders). b persons venerable because of age. 3 a person advanced in life. 4 hist. a member of a senate or governing body. 5 an official in the early Christian, Presbyterian, or Mormon Churches. Phrases and idioms: elder brother (pl. elder brethren) Brit. each of thirteen senior members of Trinity House. elder hand Cards the first player. elder statesman an influential experienced person, esp. a politician, of advanced age. Derivatives: eldership n. Etymology: OE eldra, rel. to OLD 2. n. any shrub or tree of the genus Sambucus, with white flowers and usu. blue-black or red berries. Etymology: OE ellærn

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Elder Eld"er, a. [AS. yldra, compar. of eald old. See Old.] 1. Older; more aged, or existing longer. Let the elder men among us emulate their own earlier deeds. --Jowett (Thucyd. ) 2. Born before another; prior in years; senior; earlier; older; as, his elder brother died in infancy; -- opposed to younger, and now commonly applied to a son, daughter, child, brother, etc. The elder shall serve the younger. --Gen. xxv. 23. But ask of elder days, earth's vernal hour. --Keble. Elder hand (Card Playing), the hand playing, or having the right to play, first. --Hoyle.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Elder Eld"er, n. [AS. ealdor an elder, prince, fr. eald old. See Old, and cf. Elder, a., Alderman.] 1. One who is older; a superior in age; a senior. --1 Tim. v. 1. 2. An aged person; one who lived at an earlier period; a predecessor. Carry your head as your elders have done. --L'Estrange. 3. A person who, on account of his age, occupies the office of ruler or judge; hence, a person occupying any office appropriate to such as have the experience and dignity which age confers; as, the elders of Israel; the elders of the synagogue; the elders in the apostolic church. Note: In the modern Presbyterian churches, elders are lay officers who, with the minister, compose the church session, with authority to inspect and regulate matters of religion and discipline. In some churches, pastors or clergymen are called elders, or presbyters. 4. (M. E. Ch.) A clergyman authorized to administer all the sacraments; as, a traveling elder. Presiding elder (Meth. Ch.), an elder commissioned by a bishop to have the oversight of the churches and preachers in a certain district. Ruling elder, a lay presbyter or member of a Presbyterian church session. --Schaff.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Elder El"der, n. [OE. ellern, eller, AS. ellen, cf. LG. elloorn; perh. akin to OHG. holantar, holuntar, G. holunder; or perh. to E. alder, n.] (Bot.) A genus of shrubs (Sambucus) having broad umbels of white flowers, and small black or red berries. Note: The common North American species is Sambucus Canadensis; the common European species (S. nigra) forms a small tree. The red-berried elder is S. pubens. The berries are diaphoretic and aperient. Box elder. See under 1st Box. Dwarf elder. See Danewort. Elder tree. (Bot.) Same as Elder. --Shak. Marsh elder, the cranberry tree Viburnum Opulus).

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(elders) 1. The elder of two people is the one who was born first. ...his elder brother. ...the elder of her two daughters. ADJ: ADJ n, the ADJ, the ADJ of n 2. A person's elder is someone who is older than them, especially someone quite a lot older. (FORMAL) The young have no respect for their elders. N-COUNT: poss N 3. In some societies, an elder is one of the respected older people who have influence and authority. ...tribal elders. N-COUNT 4. An elder is a bush or small tree which has groups of small white flowers and black berries. N-COUNT

Easton's Bible Dictionary

a name frequently used in the Old Testament as denoting a person clothed with authority, and entitled to respect and reverence (Gen. 50:7). It also denoted a political office (Num. 22:7). The "elders of Israel" held a rank among the people indicative of authority. Moses opened his commission to them (Ex. 3:16). They attended Moses on all important occasions. Seventy of them attended on him at the giving of the law (Ex. 24:1). Seventy also were selected from the whole number to bear with Moses the burden of the people (Num. 11:16, 17). The "elder" is the keystone of the social and political fabric wherever the patriarchal system exists. At the present day this is the case among the Arabs, where the sheik (i.e., "the old man") is the highest authority in the tribe. The body of the "elders" of Israel were the representatives of the people from the very first, and were recognized as such by Moses. All down through the history of the Jews we find mention made of the elders as exercising authority among the people. They appear as governors (Deut. 31:28), as local magistrates (16:18), administering justice (19:12). They were men of extensive influence (1 Sam. 30:26-31). In New Testament times they also appear taking an active part in public affairs (Matt. 16:21; 21:23; 26:59).

The Jewish eldership was transferred from the old dispensation to the new. "The creation of the office of elder is nowhere recorded in the New Testament, as in the case of deacons and apostles, because the latter offices were created to meet new and special emergencies, while the former was transmitted from the earlies times. In other words, the office of elder was the only permanent essential office of the church under either dispensation."

The "elders" of the New Testament church were the "pastors" (Eph. 4:11), "bishops or overseers" (Acts 20:28), "leaders" and "rulers" (Heb. 13:7; 1 Thess. 5:12) of the flock. Everywhere in the New Testament bishop and presbyter are titles given to one and the same officer of the Christian church. He who is called presbyter or elder on account of his age or gravity is also called bishop or overseer with reference to the duty that lay upon him (Titus 1:5-7; Acts 20:17-28; Phil. 1:1).

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

see ELDER IN THE OLD TESTAMENT; ELDER IN THE NEW TESTAMENT

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

I. a. 1. Older, senior, earlier born. 2. Senior, ranking, previously appointed or commissioned. 3. Earlier, more ancient, ancient, olden. II. n. 1. Senior, superior in age. 2. Old man, aged man, venerable man. 3. Presbyter, ruling elder.

Moby Thesaurus

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