eldest, a.
(ˈɛldɪst)
Forms: 1 eldest(a, ældest(a, (WS. ieldest(a, yldest(a), yltst, 2 ylste, 2–3 ealdeste, eldeste, 3 eldast, -ost, -ust, (heldest, 5 eeldist), 3– eldest, north. eildest.
[OE. ęldest(a, superl. of OE. ald (WS. eald) old; cf. OFris. eldest(a, OHG. altist(o (mod.G. ältest(e), Goth. alþist(a:—OTeut. *aldisto- (-on-). See elder a.]
The original form of the superlative of old; now superseded by oldest exc. in special uses.
† 1. Of persons or things: Most aged, farthest advanced in age. Also absol. (quasi-n.). Obs. in general sense: replaced by oldest.
It is, however, still not unusual to speak of ‘the (two or three) eldest members of a family,’ ‘the eldest of the company,’ etc.; but this is due either to some slight notion of precedence or superior rank conferred by seniority, or to the wish to avoid the implication that the persons are, absolutely, old.
| c 1000 Ags. Gosp. Matt. xxiii. 11 Seðe eower yltst [c 1160 Hatton G. yldest] sy beo se eower þen. c 1205 Lay. 2721 Gloigin hehte þa alre elduste [1250 heldeste]. a 1300 Cursor M. 5847 Wid the eldest folk of israel. 1523 Ld. Berners Froiss. I. liii. [lii.] 190 The eldest man that lyuyng neuer saw nor herde of the lyke. 1559 Morwyng Evonym. 323 A sexta or xx unces of the eldest wine. 1607–12 Bacon Parents & Childr., Ess. (Arb.) 274/1 A man shall see where there is a howsefull of Children, one or two of the eldest respected. 1611 Bible John viii. 9 They..went out..beginning at the eldest, euen vnto the last [so 1881 in R.V.]. |
2. The first-born, or the oldest surviving (member of a family, son, daughter, etc.). Also quasi-n.
| c 1000 ælfric Gen. xliv. 12 He sohte fram þam yldestan oþ þone ᵹingestan. c 1175 Cott. Hom. 227 Se asprang of Noes ylste sune. c 1205 Lay. 2930 Þa ældeste dohter haihte Gornoille [1275 eldeste]. c 1230 Hali Meid. 41 Heo of alle unþeawes is his ealdeste dohter. 1297 R. Glouc. (1724) 381 Normandye hys erytage he ȝef hys eldoste sone Roberd þe Courtese. a 1300 Cursor M. 4119 An was eildest o þe elleuen..ruben. 1398 Trevisa Barth. De P.R. vi. xiv. 199 Lawe woll that the eldest sone haue the more parte of therytage. 1536 Wriothesley Chron. (1875) I. 50 The Erle of Ruttlandes eldyste daughter. 1595 Shakes. John i. 159 Good old sir Roberts wiues eldest sonne. 1715 De Foe Fam. Instruct. i. iv. (1841) I. 86 Why not..with you as well as with your eldest sister. 1788 J. Powell Devises (1827) II. 365 A testator..desired that the first annuity..might devolve upon the eldest child. 1818 Cruise Digest VI. 320 The eldest son had but an estate for life. 1887 R. Garnett Carlyle 12 Carlyle was the eldest of nine children. |
3. Earliest, first produced; first, most ancient. arch. Also quasi-n.
| c 897 K. ælfred Gregory's Past. xliii. 313 Ðæt we ᵹemyndᵹiað ðære scylde þe ure ieldesta mæᵹ us on forworhte. 1340 Ayenb. 104 He [God] is þe eldeste and þe meste yknawe. c 1449 Pecock Repr. iii. xix. 406 In the eeldist tyme. 1593 Hooker Eccl. Pol. iv. vii, Neither is the example of the eldest Churches a whit more auailable. 1602 Shakes. Ham. iii. iii. 37 My offence..hath the primall eldest curse vpon't. 1649 Selden Laws Eng. i. xxxix. (1739) 59 Of Imprisonment there was little use in the eldest times. 1681 Dryden Abs. & Achit. 458 And Self-defence is Nature's Eldest Law. 1773 Ld. Monboddo Language (1774) I. i. vii. 87 Matter must be the eldest of things. 1801 Southey Thalaba xi. xii, Thou the eldest, thou the wisest, Guide me. 1819 Shelley Cenci v. iv. 101 Plead with the swift frost That it should spare the eldest flower of spring. |
† 4. Mil. Senior in rank or standing. Obs.
| 1721 Lond. Gaz. No. 5930/1 The eldest Battallion of Foot-Guards. |
5. In Card-playing. eldest hand, the first player; the right of playing first.
| 1599 Minsheu Dialogues Sp. & Eng. (1623) 26/2, I did lift an ace..I a fower..I a sixe, whereby I am the eldest hand. 1680 Cotton Compl. Gamester in Singer Hist. Cards (1816) 342 If there be three kings, &c. turned up, the eldest hand wins it. 1719 D'Urfey Pills I. 99 The 'tothers eldest Hand Gave Hopes to make a Jest on 't. 1876 A. Campbell-Walker Correct Card (1880) Gloss. 11 Eldest hand, the player on the dealer's left hand. |
† 6. Law. eldest part: (see quot.) Obs.
| 1641 Termes de la Ley 137 The eldest part. Enitia pars is that part that upon partition amongst coparceners falls unto the eldest sister or auncientest coparcener. |
7. Comb., as eldest-born, eldest-hearted.
| 1605 Shakes. Lear i. i. 55 Gonerill Our eldest borne speak first. 1840 Carlyle Heroes i. 7 Man..the eldest born of a certain genealogy. 1853 Kingsley Hypatia i. 7 They had elected Pambo for their abbot..eldest-hearted of them. |