Elderとは 意味・読み方・使い方

発音

• (Australian) IPA: /ˈeldə/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA: /ˈɛldə/
• (General American) IPA: /ˈɛldɚ/
• (Scotland) IPA: /ˈɛldəɹ/
• 韻: -ɛldə(ɹ)
• ハイフネーション: el‧der

語源 1

From 中期英語 eldre, from 古期英語 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.

形容詞

elder

1. comparative degree of old: older, greater than another in age or seniority.

   It's typical for elder married couples to live in retirement homes.

   The elder of the two was also an elder statesman.

   • 1913, Robert Barr, chapter 5, in Lord Stranleigh Abroad‎:

     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.

2. (card games) Closer to the dealer, i.e. receiving cards earlier than others.

   Synonym: senior

   Antonyms: junior, younger

   • 1923, Ernest Bramah [pseudonym; Ernest Brammah Smith], “(please specify the page)”, in The Eyes of Max Carrados, London: Grant Richards, →OCLC:

     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.

使用する際の注意点

• The normal comparative of old is older. The form elder is usually used in reference to the more senior of two individuals, (except in fixed expressions such as elder statesman). Elder is generally limited to attributive position (my elder brother) and does not occur in predicative position (My brother is older/*elder). This also implies that elder cannot be followed by than.

同意語

See also Thesaurus:elderly.

名詞

elder (plural elders)

1. A leader or senior member of a tribe or community, often of considerable age, respected as an authority figure, especially in a counselling, consultative, or ceremonial role.

   We were presented to the village elder.

   At the friendship centre, you can arrange to meet with a social worker or an elder.

   • 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:

     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.

   • 2022 August 25, Seyi Akiwowo, How to Stay Safe Online: A digital self-care toolkit for developing resilience and allyship, Penguin UK, →ISBN:

     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 […]

   • 2026 January 17, Lauren Cochrane, “Paul Smith reworks his past at Milan menswear salon show”, in The Guardian‎, →ISSN:

     Fashion elder compères his own celebration of designs revived from his archive by design director Sam Cotton[.]

2. (now chiefly US) An old person.
   • 2022, Ruth Taber, “Opinion: We’ll be healthier and happier if we adjust our thinking about aging”, in El Paso Matters‎:

     Treating illness among society’s elders is challenging since board-certified geriatricians (physicians trained, knowledgeable and certified in treating older patients) are in short supply, here in El Paso and throughout the country.

3. (relational, chiefly in the plural, chiefly with possessive determiners) One who is older than another.

   Respect your elders.

4. One who lived at an earlier period; a predecessor.
   • 1692, Roger L’Estrange, “ (please specify the fable number.) (please specify the name of the fable.)”, in Fables, of Æsop and Other Eminent Mythologists: […], London: […] R[ichard] Sare, […], →OCLC:

     Carry your Head […] as your Elders have done.

5. An officer of a church, sometimes having teaching responsibilities.
6. A clergyman authorized to administer all the sacraments.

   a travelling elder

7. (Tyndale Bible, obsolete, also puristic) A priest.
8. (US, Mormonism) 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.

   Jack had been an elder for only a few days when he received a new calling.

9. (US, Mormonism) A male missionary.

   The elders are coming over for dinner tonight.

10. (Mormonism, often capitalized) Title for a male missionary; title for a general authority.

    One of the long-time leaders in the Church is Elder Packer.

11. (Germanic paganism) A pagan or Heathen priest or priestess.

同意語

• (older person): eld, mzee, senior; see also Thesaurus:old person
• (one who lived at an earlier period): antecessor, forerunner; see also Thesaurus:predecessor

動詞

elder (third-person singular simple present elders, present participle eldering, simple past and past participle eldered)

1. (Quakerism) 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.

派生語

語源 2

From 中期英語 eldre, eller, ellern, from 古期英語 ellærn, from Proto-Germanic *elernaz, *eldernaz (compare Low German Elhorn, Elloorn).

名詞

elder (plural elders)

1. A small tree, Sambucus nigra, having white flowers in a cluster, and edible purple berries.
   • 1940, Rosetta E. Clarkson, Green Enchantments: The Magic Spell of Gardens, The Macmillan Company, page 273:

     Have a tree or two the witches particularly like, such as the alder, larch, cypress and hemlock; then, to counteract any possible evil effects, there must be a holly, yew, hazel, elder, mountain ash or juniper.

2. Any of the other species of the genus Sambucus: small trees, shrubs or herbaceous perennials with red, purple, or white and yellow berries (some of which are poisonous).

同意語

• (Sambucus nigra): black elder

派生語

参考

• alder (Alnus spp.)

語源 3

Perhaps from Proto-Germanic *aliþro (“udder”), from *alaną (“to nourish”). Cognate with dialectal Dutch elder (“udder”).

名詞

elder

1. A cow's udder, especially used as food.

参照

• “elder”, in Collins English Dictionary, 2011–present.

アナグラム

• Edler