/ ˈeldə(r); NAmE / adjective , noun
■ adjective
1.
[ only before noun ] ( of people, especially two members of the same family ) older :
my elder brother
his elder sister
2.
the elder used without a noun immediately after it to show who is the older of two people :
the elder of their two sons
3.
the elder ( formal ) used before or after sb's name to show that they are the older of two people who have the same name :
the elder Pitt
Pitt the elder
—compare the younger at young adjective (6) ➡ note at old
■ noun
1.
elders [ pl. ] people of greater age, experience and authority :
Children have no respect for their elders nowadays.
the village elders (= the old and respected people of the village)
2.
my, etc. elder [ sing. ] ( formal ) a person older than me, etc. :
He is her elder by several years.
3.
[ C ] an official in some Christian churches
4.
[ C ] a small tree with white flowers with a sweet smell ( elderflowers ) and bunches of small black berries ( elderberries )
•
IDIOMS
- your elders and betters
••
WORD ORIGIN
adjective and noun senses 1 to 3 Old English ieldra , eldra , of Germanic origin; related to German älter , also to old .
noun sense 4 Old English ellærn ; related to Middle Low German ellern , elderne .