Elder

adjective

1. comparative comparative degree of old: older, greater than another in age or seniority.old It's typical for elder married couples to live in retirement homes.
2. Closer to the dealer, i.e. receiving cards earlier than others. The deal fell to Copling and the automaton therefore had the first "elder hand," with the advantage of a discard of five cards against its opponent's three.

Similar: geriatric, long in the tooth, on in years

noun elders

1. 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. We were presented to the village elder.
2. US An old person. Treating illness among society’s elders is challenging since board-certified geriatricians (physicians trained, knowledgeable and certified in treating older patients) are in short supply, here in El Paso and throughout the country.
3. in plural, relational One who is older than another. Respect your elders.
4. One who lived at an earlier period; a predecessor. Carry your Head[…] as your Elders have done.
5. An officer of a church, sometimes having teaching responsibilities.
6. A clergyman authorized to administer all the sacraments. a travelling elder
7. obsolete A priest.
8. Mormonism, US One ordained to the lowest office in the Melchizedek priesthood. After being a member of the Church for a while, Bill was ordained to the office of elder.
9. Mormonism, US A male missionary. The elders are coming over for dinner tonight.
10. Mormonism, capitalized, often Title for a male missionary; title for a general authority. One of the long-time leaders in the Church is Elder Packer.
11. Germanic A pagan or Heathen priest or priestess.

Similar: mzee, senior, forerunner

verb elders · eldering · eldered

1. Quakerism To admonish or reprove for improper conduct by the elders of the meeting. I was eldered for directly responding to someone else's message in meeting for worship.

noun elders

1. A small tree, Sambucus nigra, having white flowers in a cluster, and edible purple berries. Have a tree or two the witches particularly like, such as the alder, larch, cypress and hemlock; then, to counteract any possible evil effects, there must be a holly, yew, hazel, elder, mountain ash or juniper.
2. 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).

noun

1. A cow's udder, especially used as food.

proper noun Yelder

1. A surname. Ruth Elder was known for her beauty and acting, but her real dream was to become the female version of transatlantic aviator Charles Lindbergh.