Elder

Older; more aged, or existing longer.

Born before another; prior in years; senior; earlier; older; as, his elder brother died in infancy; -- opposed to younger, and now commonly applied to a son, daughter, child, brother, etc.

One who is older; a superior in age; a senior.

An aged person; one who lived at an earlier period; a predecessor.

A person who, on account of his age, occupies the office of ruler or judge; hence, a person occupying any office appropriate to such as have the experience and dignity which age confers; as, the elders of Israel; the elders of the synagogue; the elders in the apostolic church.

A clergyman authorized to administer all the sacraments; as, a traveling elder.

A genus of shrubs (Sambucus) having broad umbels of white flowers, and small black or red berries.

any of numerous shrubs or small trees of temperate and subtropical Northern Hemisphere having white flowers and berrylike fruit