Elder Meaning
/ˈeldə/Definition, CEFR level B1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
adjcomparative degree of old: older, greater than another in age or seniority.
adjCloser to the dealer, i.e. receiving cards earlier than others.
Sentence Examples
Then the younger brother set off, and the elder remained behind.
John's mother looks so young that she is often mistaken for his elder sister.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The village ____ was respected by everyone for his wisdom.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
Then the younger brother set off, and the ____ remained behind.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English eldre, from Old English eldra, yldra, ieldra, from Proto-Germanic *alþizô. The vowel change from a to e triggered by the following i is called umlaut or I-mutation.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"She removed Stranleigh’s coat with a dexterity that aroused his imagination. The elder woman returned with dressings and a sponge, which she placed on a chair."
— 1913, Robert Barr, chapter 5, in Lord Stranleigh Abroad:
"The deal fell to Copling and the automaton therefore had the first "elder hand," with the advantage of a discard of five cards against its opponent's three."
— 1923, Ernest Bramah, The Eyes of Max Carrados:
"People saw in the elders, who were closer to death, the manifestation of the divine force that was thought to achieve its full liberation at death."
— 1995, Julius Evola, “The Two Paths in the Afterlife”, in Guido Stucco, transl., Revolt against the Modern World, Rochester, Vermont: Inner Traditions International, translation of Rivolta contro il mondo moderno, →ISBN, page 50:
"I probably wouldn't be here talking about this very topic if it weren't for the few but mighty elders in the tech and gender rights spaces. Folks like South Africa-based Jan Moolman from the Association for Progressive Communications[…]"
— 2022 August 25, Seyi Akiwowo, How to Stay Safe Online: A digital self-care toolkit for developing resilience and allyship, Penguin UK, →ISBN:
"Fashion elder compères his own celebration of designs revived from his archive by design director Sam Cotton[.]"
— 2026 January 17, Lauren Cochrane, “Paul Smith reworks his past at Milan menswear salon show”, in The Guardian, →ISSN:
Explore More B1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The village ____ was respected by everyone for his wisdom.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
Then the younger brother set off, and the ____ remained behind.