old

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   Having lived for many years; not young.

   My grandmother is very old but still very active.

2. 2
   adj

   Having existed for a long time.

   They live in an old house near the river.

3. 3
   adj

   Used to say how many years someone or something has lived or existed.

   My little brother is six years old.

4. 4
   adj

   Former; from an earlier time.

   I met an old friend from school yesterday.

Appears in

Simplified etymology

Old descends from Old English and shares an ancient root with Latin alere, meaning “to nourish.” The same root connects it historically with alimony.

Inherited from Middle English old, oold, from Old English ald, eald (“old, aged, ancient, antique, primeval”), from Proto-West Germanic *ald, from Proto-Germanic *aldaz (“grown-up”), originally a participle form, from Proto-Indo-European *h₂eltós (“grown, tall, big”). Cognates Cognate with Scots aald, auld (“old”), Yola yola, yolaw, yold, yole (“old”), North Frisian ool, ual, uuil, uul, üülj (“old”), Saterland Frisian oold (“old”), West Frisian âld (“old”), Alemannic German altu, oalt, oalts, olt, àltà (“old”), Bavarian oid (“old”), Central Franconian alt, aod, auw, oot (“old”), Cimbrian, Germ…

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