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Eldest: meaning, definitions and examples

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eldest

 

[ ˈɛl.dɪst ]

Adjective
Context #1 | Adjective

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

firstborn, oldest, senior

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

🇮🇩 tertua

🇺🇦 найстарший

🇵🇱 najstarszy

🇯🇵 最年長の

🇫🇷 aîné

🇪🇸 mayor

🇹🇷 en büyük

🇰🇷 가장 나이 많은

🇸🇦 الأكبر

🇨🇿 nejstarší

🇸🇰 najstarší

🇨🇳 最年长的

🇸🇮 najstarejši

🇮🇸 eldri

🇰🇿 ең үлкен

🇬🇪 ყველაზე უფროსი

🇦🇿 ən yaşlı

🇲🇽 el mayor

Etymology

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.