'Elder' definitions:

Definition of 'elder'

(from WordNet)
adjective
Used of the older of two persons of the same name especially used to distinguish a father from his son; "Bill Adams, Sr." [syn: elder, older, sr.]
noun
A person who is older than you are [syn: elder, senior]
noun
Any of numerous shrubs or small trees of temperate and subtropical northern hemisphere having white flowers and berrylike fruit [syn: elder, elderberry bush]
noun
Any of various church officers

Definition of 'Elder'

From: GCIDE
  • Elder \Eld"er\, n. [AS. ealdor an elder, prince, fr. eald old. See Old, and cf. Elder, a., Alderman.]
  • 1. One who is older; a superior in age; a senior. --1 Tim. v. 1. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. An aged person; one who lived at an earlier period; a predecessor. [1913 Webster]
  • Carry your head as your elders have done. --L'Estrange. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. 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. [1913 Webster]
  • Note: In the modern Presbyterian churches, elders are lay officers who, with the minister, compose the church session, with authority to inspect and regulate matters of religion and discipline. In some churches, pastors or clergymen are called elders, or presbyters. [1913 Webster]
  • 4. (M. E. Ch.) A clergyman authorized to administer all the sacraments; as, a traveling elder. [1913 Webster]
  • Presiding elder (Meth. Ch.), an elder commissioned by a bishop to have the oversight of the churches and preachers in a certain district.
  • Ruling elder, a lay presbyter or member of a Presbyterian church session. --Schaff. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'Elder'

From: GCIDE
  • Elder \Eld"er\, a. [AS. yldra, compar. of eald old. See Old.]
  • 1. Older; more aged, or existing longer. [1913 Webster]
  • Let the elder men among us emulate their own earlier deeds. --Jowett (Thucyd. ) [1913 Webster]
  • 2. 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. [1913 Webster]
  • The elder shall serve the younger. --Gen. xxv. 23. [1913 Webster]
  • But ask of elder days, earth's vernal hour. --Keble. [1913 Webster]
  • Elder hand (Card Playing), the hand playing, or having the right to play, first. --Hoyle. [1913 Webster]

Definition of 'elder'

From: Easton
  • Elder a name frequently used in the Old Testament as denoting a person clothed with authority, and entitled to respect and reverence (Gen. 50:7). It also denoted a political office (Num. 22:7). The "elders of Israel" held a rank among the people indicative of authority. Moses opened his commission to them (Ex. 3:16). They attended Moses on all important occasions. Seventy of them attended on him at the giving of the law (Ex. 24:1). Seventy also were selected from the whole number to bear with Moses the burden of the people (Num. 11:16, 17). The "elder" is the keystone of the social and political fabric wherever the patriarchal system exists. At the present day this is the case among the Arabs, where the sheik (i.e., "the old man") is the highest authority in the tribe. The body of the "elders" of Israel were the representatives of the people from the very first, and were recognized as such by Moses. All down through the history of the Jews we find mention made of the elders as exercising authority among the people. They appear as governors (Deut. 31:28), as local magistrates (16:18), administering justice (19:12). They were men of extensive influence (1 Sam. 30:26-31). In New Testament times they also appear taking an active part in public affairs (Matt. 16:21; 21:23; 26:59).
  • The Jewish eldership was transferred from the old dispensation to the new. "The creation of the office of elder is nowhere recorded in the New Testament, as in the case of deacons and apostles, because the latter offices were created to meet new and special emergencies, while the former was transmitted from the earlies times. In other words, the office of elder was the only permanent essential office of the church under either dispensation."
  • The "elders" of the New Testament church were the "pastors" (Eph. 4:11), "bishops or overseers" (Acts 20:28), "leaders" and "rulers" (Heb. 13:7; 1 Thess. 5:12) of the flock. Everywhere in the New Testament bishop and presbyter are titles given to one and the same officer of the Christian church. He who is called presbyter or elder on account of his age or gravity is also called bishop or overseer with reference to the duty that lay upon him (Titus 1:5-7; Acts 20:17-28; Phil. 1:1).

Words containing 'Elder'