She removed Stranleigh’s coat with a dexterity that aroused his imagination. Theelder woman returned with dressings and a sponge, which she placed on a chair.
The normal comparative ofold isolder. The formelder is usually used in reference to the more senior of two individuals, (except in fixed expressions such aselder statesman).Elder is generally limited to attributive position(my elder brother) and does not occur in predicative position (My brother is older/*elder). This also implies thatelder cannot be followed bythan.[1]
A leader or senior member of atribe orcommunity, often of considerable age, respected as an authority figure, especially in a counselling, consultative, or ceremonial role.
We were presented to the villageelder.
At the friendship centre, you can arrange to meet with a social worker or anelder.
1995,Julius Evola, “The Two Paths in the Afterlife”, in Guido Stucco, transl.,Revolt against the Modern World[3], Rochester, Vermont: Inner Traditions International, translation ofRivolta contro il mondo moderno,→ISBN, page50:
People saw in theelders, who were closer to death, the manifestation of the divine force that was thought to achieve its full liberation at death.
2022 August 25, Seyi Akiwowo,How to Stay Safe Online: A digital self-care toolkit for developing resilience and allyship, Penguin UK,→ISBN:
I probably wouldn't be here talking about this very topic if it weren't for the few but mightyelders in the tech and gender rights spaces. Folks like South Africa-based Jan Moolman from the Association for Progressive Communications[…]
2026 January 17, Lauren Cochrane, “Paul Smith reworks his past at Milan menswear salon show”, inThe Guardian[4],→ISSN:
Fashionelder compères his own celebration of designs revived from his archive by design director Sam Cotton[.]
2022, Ruth Taber, “Opinion: We’ll be healthier and happier if we adjust our thinking about aging”, inEl Paso Matters[5]:
Treating illness among society’selders 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.
(relational, chiefly in the plural, chiefly with possessive determiners) One who is older than another.
1940, Rosetta E. Clarkson,Green Enchantments: The Magic Spell of Gardens, The Macmillan Company, page273:
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.
Any of the other species of thegenusSambucus: small trees,shrubs orherbaceousperennials with red, purple, or white and yellow berries (some of which are poisonous).
The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions atWiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.
, Oxford:Oxford University Press, launched 2000.