Eldest: meaning, definitions and examples
👶🏻
eldest
[ ˈɛl.dɪst ]
family member
The term 'eldest' refers to the person who is the oldest among siblings or a group. It indicates the highest rank in terms of age, often carrying connotations of responsibility and experience.
Synonyms
Examples of usage
- She is the eldest child in her family.
- The eldest son is typically expected to take over the family business.
- As the eldest sibling, he often acts as a mediator in disputes.
Translations
Translations of the word "eldest" in other languages:
🇵🇹 mais velho
🇮🇳 बड़ा
🇩🇪 älteste
- der älteste
- die älteste
🇮🇩 tertua
🇺🇦 найстарший
🇵🇱 najstarszy
🇯🇵 最年長の
🇫🇷 aîné
🇪🇸 mayor
- el mayor
- la mayor
🇹🇷 en büyük
🇰🇷 가장 나이 많은
🇸🇦 الأكبر
🇨🇿 nejstarší
🇸🇰 najstarší
🇨🇳 最年长的
🇸🇮 najstarejši
🇮🇸 eldri
🇰🇿 ең үлкен
🇬🇪 ყველაზე უფროსი
🇦🇿 ən yaşlı
🇲🇽 el mayor
Word origin
The word 'eldest' originates from the Old English term 'eldesta', a superlative form of 'eald', meaning 'old'. The usage can be traced back to the early Germanic languages, where similar forms indicated the oldest member of a group. Linguistic evolution has preserved this meaning across centuries, and it remains prevalent in modern English. Historically, being the eldest child in a family has often come with privileges and responsibilities, influencing inheritance and social roles. The term is frequently used in literature and common discourse to denote age hierarchy, particularly among siblings, reinforcing societal norms surrounding familial structure.
Word Frequency Rank
At #6,962 in frequency, this word belongs to advanced vocabulary. It's less common than core vocabulary but important for sophisticated expression.
- ...
- 6959 freed
- 6960 preferable
- 6961 chocolate
- 6962 eldest
- 6963 query
- 6964 exerted
- 6965 discontinued
- ...