~ 1
■ adjective (of one or more out of a group of people) of a greater age.
■ noun
1》 ( one's ~ ) a person of greater age than one.
2》 a leader or senior figure in a community or tribe.
3》 an official in the early Christian Church, or of various Protestant Churches and sects.
Derivatives
~ship noun
Origin
OE ieldra , eldra , of Gmc origin; related to eld and old .
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~ 2
■ noun a small tree or shrub with white flowers and bluish-black or red berries. [ Sambucus nigra and related species.]
↘used in names of other plants resembling this, e.g. ground ~ .
Origin
OE ellærn ; related to Mid. Low Ger. ellern , ~ne .