Hypertext Webster Gateway: "eldest"
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)
Eldest \Eld"est\, a. [AS. yldest, superl. of eald old. See
{Elder}, a.]
1. Oldest; longest in duration. --Shak.
2. Born or living first, or before the others, as a son,
daughter, brother, etc.; first in origin. See {Elder}.
``My lady's eldest son.'' --Shak.
Their eldest historians are of suspected credit.
--Bp.
Stillingfleet.
{Eldest hand} (Card Playing), the player on the dealer's left
hand. --R. A. Proctor.
From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)
eldest
adj : first in order of birth; "the firstborn child" [syn: {firstborn}]
n : the offspring who came first in the order of birth [syn: {firstborn}]
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