adj older; more aged, or existing longer.
2. elder ·adj one who is older; a superior in age; a senior.
3. elder ·adj an aged person; one who lived at an earlier period; a predecessor.
4. elder ·adj a clergyman authorized to administer all the sacraments; as, a traveling elder.
5. elder ·noun a genus of shrubs (sambucus) having broad umbels of white flowers, and small black or red berries.
6. elder ·adj 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.
7. elder ·adj 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.