old

Everyday

1. Old tells how long someone or something has lived or been: «Tom is 7 years old». tree →
2. Old means having lived a long time: «an old man». tree →
3. Old means not new, used for a long time: «old shoes». tree →
4. Old can mean from before: «my old school». tree →
5. (casual) «Old» is said in a friendly way: «old mate», «good old Dad», «any old thing» (anything at all). tree →
6. (casual, rude) «My old man» and «my old lady» are slang for dad and mum (or husband and wife); «old fart», «old bag» are rude names for old people. tree →
7. (euphemism) Polite words for old people are «older people», «seniors», «elderly», «senior citizens», «getting on a bit». tree →
8. (formal) Exams say «aged», «of age», «the age of», «antique», «former» and «previously». tree →

In the lessons

how many years a person has lived: «How old» asks for an age in years; in history, old things come from long ago; phrases: «years old», «how old», «old friend», «in the old days», «grow old», «old-fashioned», «same old»; in casual talk «how old r u», «old mate», «old school» (in the old style, cool), «my old man»; in rough talk «old git», «ya old moaner»; euphemism «getting on a bit», «elderly», «senior»; in the exam voice «aged 7 years», «the present age of», «the age attained»

Examples

• Tom is 7 years old. How old is Anna? tree →
• Lily is 9 years old and her sister is 4. tree →
• How old will Ben be in 3 years? tree →
• My grandad is very old, but he still cycles. tree →
• These shoes are old and have holes in them. tree →
• I met my old teacher in the shop. tree →
• The castle is about 800 years old. tree →
• how old's ur nan, like 80? tree →
• My old man says I'm getting 2 dollars a week. tree →
• Grandpa's getting on a bit, so we carry his bags. tree →
• A pupil, presently aged 7 years, has a sibling aged 4 years. Determine the age of the sibling when the pupil attains the age of 10. tree →
• Be kind and patient with old people. tree →
• "Who's there?" asked the old lady. tree →

Note

«How old» asks for an age in years. Trap: in N years both people are N years older, so their difference stays the same. «a 7-year-old» is a child of 7 (no «s» on year before old). «aged 7» and «presently aged 7 years» mean 7 years old now. «elderly» and «seniors» are the polite words; «old git» is rude.

In Jewish tradition

In the Torah, old often gives a person's age, and very long lives are told in years. In the primary lessons: how many years a person has lived: «How old» asks for an age in years; in history, old things come from long ago; phrases: «years old», «how old», «old friend», «in the old days», «grow old», «old-fashioned», «same old»; in casual talk «how old r u», «old mate», «old school» (in the old style, cool), «my old man»; in rough talk «old git», «ya old moaner»; euphemism «getting on a bit», «elderly», «senior»; in the exam voice «aged 7 years», «the present age of», «the age attained»

Examples

• And Isaac was threescore years old when she bore them. (Torah GEN.25.26, JPS 1917) tree →
• So Joseph died, being a hundred and ten years old. (Torah GEN.50.26, JPS 1917) tree →
• And Noah was five hundred years old; and Noah begot Shem, Ham, and Japheth. (Torah GEN.5.32, JPS 1917) tree →
• So Job died, being old and full of days. (Writings JOB.42.17, JPS 1917) tree →
• Both young men and maidens, old men and children; (Writings PSA.148.12, JPS 1917) tree →
• Jehoash was seven years old when he began to reign. (Prophets 2KI.12.1, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

«How old» asks for an age in years. Trap: in N years both people are N years older, so their difference stays the same. «a 7-year-old» is a child of 7 (no «s» on year before old). «aged 7» and «presently aged 7 years» mean 7 years old now. «elderly» and «seniors» are the polite words; «old git» is rude.