■ adjective ( ~er , ~est )
1》 having lived for a long time; no longer young.
↘made or built long ago.
↘possessed or used for a long time.
2》 former; previous.
3》 long-established or known: ~ friends.
4》 of a specified age.
↘[as noun ] a person or animal of the age specified: a five-year-~.
5》 informal expressing affection, familiarity, or contempt: good ~ Mum.
Phrases
of ~
1》 in or belonging to the past.
2》 for a long time.
the ~ country the native country of a person who has gone to live abroad.
the ~ days a period in the past.
the ~ school the traditional form or type.
Derivatives
~ish adjective
~ness noun
Origin
OE ald , of W. Gmc origin.