elder

The word “elder” means a respected older member of a community, often looked to for guidance or leadership. In plain terms, older (usually of a family member), or a respected senior figure in a community — plus an unrelated sense referring to a flowering shrub.

“Elder” is pronounced EHL-duh (/ˈɛldɚ/ in IPA).

Here is “elder” used in a sentence: “The village elders met to settle the dispute.”

Words with a similar meaning to “elder” include mzee, senior and forerunner.

Depending on how it is used, “elder” can be a noun and an adjective.

The word “elder” comes from Old English. From Old English eldra, the comparative form of "old," altered in spelling by a sound change called umlaut.

“Elder” is a fairly common word in modern English.

“Elder” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a respected older member of a community, often looked to for guidance or leadership.

Older is the ordinary comparative of old and works with "than": "She is older than me." Elder cannot be used with "than" and appears mainly before a noun for family relationships — "my elder brother," "the elder daughter." Elder also carries a sense of respect or seniority that older lacks, as in a village elder.

An elder is a respected older member of a community, often looked to for guidance or leadership — the word is about standing, not just age. The elderly is a general term for old people as a group, one that many style guides now advise replacing with "older people." You can be elderly without being an elder, and in some communities an elder need not be very old at all.

In many Christian churches, an elder is a member appointed or ordained to a position of spiritual leadership or governance. Exact duties differ by denomination — in some, elders govern the congregation; in others, elder is a formal title or office. The usage grows out of the word's core sense of a respected community member looked to for guidance.

They refer to the same plant. Elder is the name of the small tree or shrub (genus Sambucus) that bears clusters of white flowers and dark purple berries, while elderberry names its fruit and is also used loosely for the plant itself. Elderflower likewise refers to its blossoms.