elder1
¦ adjective (of one or more out of a group of people) of a greater age.
¦ noun
1. (one's elder) a person of greater age than one.
2. a leader or senior figure in a community or tribe.
3. an official in the early Christian Church, or of various Protestant Churches and sects.
Derivatives
eldership noun
Origin
OE
ieldra,
eldra, of Gmc origin; related to
eld and
old.
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elder2
¦ noun a small tree or shrub with white flowers and bluish-black or red berries. [Sambucus nigra and related species.]
?used in names of other plants resembling this, e.g. ground elder.
Origin
OE ell?rn; related to Mid. Low Ger. ellern, elderne.