Part 3649

<note>&hand; In the modern Presbyterian churches, <i>elders</i> 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 <i>elders</i>, or <i>presbyters</i>.</note>

<p><b>4.</b> <fld>(M. E. Ch.)</fld> <def>A clergyman authorized to administer all the sacraments; <as>as, a traveling <ex>elder</ex></as>.</def>

<cs><col>Presiding elder</col> <fld>(Meth. Ch.)</fld>, <cd>an elder commissioned by a bishop to have the oversight of the churches and preachers in a certain district.</cd> -- <col>Ruling elder</col>, <cd>a lay presbyter or member of a Presbyterian church session.</cd></cs>

<i>Schaff.</i>

<h1>Elder</h1> <Xpage=476>

<hw>El"der</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[OE. <ets>ellern</ets>, <ets>eller</ets>, AS. <ets>ellen</ets>, cf. LG. <ets>elloorn</ets>; perh. akin to OHG. <ets>holantar</ets>, <ets>holuntar</ets>, G. <ets>holunder</ets>; or perh. to E. <ets>alder</ets>, <ets>n.</ets>]</ety> <fld>(Bot.)</fld> <def>A genus of shrubs (<spn>Sambucus</spn>) having broad umbels of white flowers, and small black or red berries.</def>

<note>&hand; The common North American species is <spn>Sambucus Canadensis</spn>; the common European species (<spn>S. nigra</spn>) forms a small tree. The red-berried elder is <spn>S. pubens</spn>. The berries are diaphoretic and aperient.</note>

<cs><col>Box elder</col>. <cd>See under 1st <er>Box</er>.</cd> -- <col>Dwarf elder</col>. <cd>See <er>Danewort</er>.</cd> -- <col>Elder tree</col>. <fld>(Bot.)</fld> <cd>Same as <er>Elder</er>. <i>Shak</i>.</cd> -- <col>Marsh elder</col>, <cd>the cranberry tree <spn>Viburnum Opulus</spn>).</cd></cs>

<h1>Elderish</h1> <Xpage=476>

<hw>Eld"er*ish</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <def>Somewhat old; elderly.</def> <mark>[R.]</mark>

<h1>Elderly</h1> <Xpage=476>

<hw>Eld"er*ly</hw>, <tt>a.</tt> <def>Somewhat old; advanced beyond middle age; bordering on old age; <as>as, <ex>elderly</ex> people</as>.</def>

<h1>Eldern</h1> <Xpage=476>

<hw>El"dern</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <def>Made of elder.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<blockquote>He would discharge us as boys do <b>eldern</b> guns. <i>Marston.</i></blockquote>

<h1>Eldership</h1> <Xpage=476>

<hw>Eld"er*ship</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <p><b>1.</b> <def>The state of being older; seniority.</def> "Paternity an <i>eldership</i>."

<i>Sir W. Raleigh.</i>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>Office of an elder; collectively, a body of elders.</def>

<h1>Elderwort</h1> <Xpage=476>

<hw>El"der*wort`</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <fld>(Bot.)</fld> <def>Danewort.</def>

<h1>Eldest</h1> <Xpage=476>

<hw>Eld"est</hw> <tt>(?)</tt>, <tt>a.</tt> <ety>[AS. <ets>yldest</ets>, superl. of <ets>eald</ets> old. See <er>Elder</er>, <tt>a.</tt>]</ety>

<p><b>1.</b> <def>Oldest; longest in duration.</def>

<i>Shak.</i>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>Born or living first, or before the others, as a son, daughter, brother, etc.; first in origin. See <er>Elder</er>.</def> "My lady's <i>eldest</i> son."

<i>Shak.</i>

<blockquote>Their <b>eldest</b> historians are of suspected credit. <i>Bp. Stillingfleet.</i></blockquote>