3 entries under this word
a. [A-S. ildra, yldra, m., ildre, yldre, f., the comparative degree of ald, eald, old. See OLD.] Older; having lived a longer time; more advanced in age; senior; prior, as in origin;—opposed to younger.
The elder shall serve the younger. Gen. xxv. 23.
n. 1. One who is older; a superior in age; a senior. 1 Tim. v. 1.
Sense 2. An ancestor; a predecessor.
Carry your head as your elders have done before you. L'Estrange.
Sense 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. In the modern Presbyterian churches, elders are officers, who, with the pastors or ministers, compose the church sessions, with authority to inspect and regulate matters of religion and discipline. In some churches, pastors or clergymen are called elders, or presbyters.
n. [A-S. ellarn, Prov. Ger. holder, O. H. Ger. holder, holdir, holantar, holuntar, M. H. Ger. holter, holenter, holunter, N. H. Ger. holunder, from O. H. Ger. hol, N. H. Ger. holl, hollow, and tar, equivalent to Eng. tree: Dan. hyld, hyldetræ, Sw. hyll, hylleträ.] (Bot.) A genus of plants (Sambucus) having broad umbels of white flowers, and dark-red berries. The common North American species is S. Canadensis.