elder

Reading level: medium

Estimated CEFR level: B1 — Intermediate

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun a person who is older than you are
  2. noun any of numerous shrubs or small trees of temperate and subtropical northern hemisphere having white flowers and berrylike fruit
  3. noun any of various church officers

Etymology

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.

In classic literature

Synonyms

senior

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