eldest

Everyday

1. Eldest means oldest, used for people in the same family: «my eldest brother». tree →
2. The eldest is the oldest child in a family. tree →

In the lessons

In stories and family talk eldest shows age order among brothers and sisters. In maths problems you may compare ages to find the eldest. Phrases: «the eldest son», «my eldest», «eldest of three».

Examples

• Tom is the eldest of four children. tree →
• My eldest sister is at university. tree →
• The eldest daughter looked after the little ones. tree →
• Sara is 12, Ben 9, Mo 7; who is the eldest? tree →
• In fairy tales the eldest brother often fails first. tree →
• She's my eldest. (her oldest child) tree →
• Well, the eldest son undertook the task. tree →

Note

Only for family members: «my eldest brother», but «the oldest building». Elder (comparative) is only used before nouns or with «the»: «my elder sister»; you say «older than», never «elder than». Maths: the eldest has the largest age.

In Jewish tradition

In stories and family talk eldest shows age order among brothers and sisters. In maths problems you may compare ages to find the eldest. Phrases: «the eldest son», «my eldest», «eldest of three».

Examples

• And he searched, beginning at the eldest, and leaving off at the youngest; and the goblet was found in Benjamin's sack. (Torah GEN.44.12, JPS 1917) tree →
• And David was the youngest; and the three eldest followed Saul. — (Prophets 1SA.17.14, JPS 1917) tree →
• Then he took his eldest son that should have reigned in his stead, and offered him for a burnt-offering upon the wall. (Prophets 2KI.3.27, JPS 1917) tree →
• And it fell on a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house, (Writings JOB.1.13, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Only for family members: «my eldest brother», but «the oldest building». Elder (comparative) is only used before nouns or with «the»: «my elder sister»; you say «older than», never «elder than». Maths: the eldest has the largest age.