Hypertext Webster Gateway: "elder"
From Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary (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).
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Elder \Eld"er\, a. [AS. yldra, compar. of eald old. See {Old}.]
1. Older; more aged, or existing longer.
Let the elder men among us emulate their own earlier
deeds. --Jowett
(Thucyd. )
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.
The elder shall serve the younger. --Gen. xxv.
23.
But ask of elder days, earth's vernal hour. --Keble.
{Elder hand} (Card Playing), the hand playing, or having the
right to play, first. --Hoyle.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
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.
2. An aged person; one who lived at an earlier period; a
predecessor.
Carry your head as your elders have done.
--L'Estrange.
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.
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.
4. (M. E. Ch.) A clergyman authorized to administer all the
sacraments; as, a traveling elder.
{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.
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Elder \El"der\, n. [OE. ellern, eller, AS. ellen, cf. LG.
elloorn; perh. akin to OHG. holantar, holuntar, G. holunder;
or perh. to E. alder, n.] (Bot.)
A genus of shrubs ({Sambucus}) having broad umbels of white
flowers, and small black or red berries.
Note: The common North American species is {Sambucus
Canadensis}; the common European species ({S. nigra})
forms a small tree. The red-berried elder is {S.
pubens}. The berries are diaphoretic and aperient.
{Box elder}. See under 1st {Box}.
{Dwarf elder}. See {Danewort}.
{Elder tree}. (Bot.) Same as {Elder}. --Shak.
{Marsh elder}, the cranberry tree {Viburnum Opulus}).
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
elder
adj 1: used of the older of two persons of the same name especially
used to distinguish a father from his son; "Bill
Adams, Sr." [syn: {older}, {sr.}]
2: older brother or sister; "big sister" [syn: {big(a)}, {older}]
[ant: {little(a)}]
n 1: a person who is older than you are [syn: {senior}]
2: any of numerous shrubs or small trees of temperate and
subtropical northern hemisphere having white flowers and
berrylike fruit [syn: {elderberry bush}]
3: any of various church officers
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