older

C2+ Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ˈoʊldər/ UK /ˈəʊldə/ See IPA manual

adj

Meanings

1

adj
comparative of old; having lived or existed longer

My older brother taught me how to ride a bicycle.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · comparative of old; having... elder senior aged ancient

Opposites

younger newer junior

Word family

Related forms old oldest elder olden

Common collocations

older sister Adjective + noun

Etymology

The comparative of 'old', from Old English 'eald', from Proto-Germanic *aldaz, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h2el- ('to grow, nourish').

eald Old English *aldaz Proto-Germanic *h2el- Proto-Indo-European

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Describing Qualities Word Formation & Derivatives

# older

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** ˈoʊldər
**IPA (UK):** ˈəʊldə

## Meanings
1. comparative of old; having lived or existed longer

## Examples
- My older brother taught me how to ride a bicycle.

## Synonyms
- elder
- senior
- aged
- ancient

## Antonyms
- younger
- newer
- junior

## Related Forms
- old
- oldest
- elder
- olden

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: eald
- Root: *aldaz
- Root: *h2el-

## Etymology
The comparative of 'old', from Old English 'eald', from Proto-Germanic *aldaz, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h2el- ('to grow, nourish').

## AI Etymology
Older is traced through this development: The comparative of 'old', from Old English 'eald', from Proto-Germanic *aldaz, ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h2el- ('to grow, nourish'). The form is best read as a historical transfer or inheritance, with its older language material carrying the main semantic load. As an adjective, it carries the sense "comparative of old; having lived or existed longer", with the older formation still helping explain the modern use. Relevant historical forms include Old English eald, Proto-Germanic *aldaz, and Proto-Indo-European *h2el-. Related words include old, oldest, elder, olden.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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