elder
noun
- 1
An older person or an older member, usually a leader, of some community.
“We were presented to the village elder.”
- 2
One who is older than another.
“Respect your elders.”
- 3
One who lived at an earlier period; a predecessor.
- 4
An officer of a church, sometimes having teaching responsibilities.
- 5
A clergyman authorized to administer all the sacraments.
“a travelling elder”
- 6
One ordained to the lowest office in the Melchizedek priesthood.
“After being a member of the Church for a while, Bill was ordained to the office of elder.”
- 7
Male missionary.
“The elders are coming over for dinner tonight.”
- 8
(often capitalized) Title for a male missionary; title for a general authority.
“One of the long-time leaders in the Church is Elder Packer.”
- 9
A pagan or Heathen priest or priestess.
verb
- 1
To admonish or reprove for improper conduct by the elders of the meeting.
“I was eldered for directly responding to someone else's message in meeting for worship.”
adjective
- 1
Of an object, concept, relationship, etc., having existed for a relatively long period of time.
“an old abandoned building; an old friend”
- 2
Having been used and thus no longer new or unused.
“I find that an old toothbrush is good to clean the keyboard with.”
- 3
Having existed or lived for the specified time.
“How old are they? She’s five years old and he's seven. We also have a young teen and a two-year-old child.”
- 4
(heading) Of an earlier time.
- 5
Tiresome after prolonged repetition.
“Your constant pestering is getting old.”
- 6
Said of subdued colors, particularly reds, pinks and oranges, as if they had faded over time.
- 7
A grammatical intensifier, often used in describing something positive. (Mostly in idioms like good old, big old and little old, any old and some old.)
“We're having a good old time. My next car will be a big old SUV. My wife makes the best little old apple pie in Texas.”
- 8
Excessive, abundant.
Synonyms
noun
- 1
A small tree, Sambucus nigra, having white flowers in a cluster, and edible purple berries
- 2
Any of the other species of the genus Sambucus: small trees, shrubs or herbaceous perennials with red, purple, or white/yellow berries (some of which are poisonous).
Synonyms
Translate “elder” to another language
Click any language to open the translator with this word already filled in.