Middle English Dictionary Entry
eldre-man, elder- n. (usually plural)
Entry Info
| Forms | eldre-man, elder- n. (usually plural) Also alder-, aldre-, alderneman, eildren-, eldere-, eldir-, eldrin-, heldar-, oldre-. |
| Etymology |
Definitions (Senses and Subsenses)
Note: Cp. eldre n., ōld(e adj., and alderman n.
1.
In the Bible or works derived from the Bible: one having authority in the community, orig. on account of age; esp. the elders of the Jewish people or of the apostolic church.
Associated quotations
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Mark 14.[73] : The hiȝeste prestis, makinge counceil with the eldere men [WB(2): elder men] and scribis, and al the counceil.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Deeds 15.6 : And apostlis and eldre men camen to gidere.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Dc 369(2))Deeds 15.22 : Apostlis, and eldre men, with al the chirche.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Roy 1.B.6)Apoc.5.14 : And the foure and twenty eldre men felden doun in to her facis.
- (c1384) WBible(1) (Roy 1.B.6)Apoc.11.16 : The foure and twenty senyoures, or elder men [WB(2): eldre men], that sitten in her seetes in the siȝt of the Lord.
- a1400(a1325) Cursor (Vsp A.3)5784 : Gedir samen þin eldir [vrr. eldrin, eldest] men Of all þi folk of israel.
- a1425(a1382) WBible(1) (Corp-O 4)Ex.4.29 : Thei gadereden togidere alle the alder men [WB(2): eldere men] of the sones of Yrael.
- a1425(a1382) WBible(1) (Corp-O 4)Deut.22.18 : The aldre men [WB(2): eldere men] of the citee shulen taak the man of hir, and thei shulen beet hym.
- a1425(c1395) WBible(2) (Roy 1.C.8)Mat.16.21 : It bihofte hym go to Jerusalem, and suffre many thingis, of the eldere men [WB(1): eldris], and of scribis, and princis of prestis.
- (a1460) Bokenham Sts. (Adv Abbotsford B3)132.17 (v.2:p.358) : We as aldernemen han reseyuyd the cours of more esy conflijt [read: conflict].
- c1483(?a1450) OT in Caxton Gold.Leg.(Caxton)f.59ra : Goo to fore the peple and take with the the oldremen and senyors [Vulg.Exod.17.5: senibus] of Israhel.
2.
In a more general sense: an official of one kind or another (by confusion with alderman).
Associated quotations
- (a1387) Trev.Higd.(StJ-C H.1)1.41 : By counsaile of þe senatoures and elder men of Rome [L ex senatus consulto].
- c1450(c1405) Mum & S.(2) (Add 41666)1427 : And bade þaym coroune Changwys king of al þaire peuple, A eildren man of aunsetrie þat aged was a lite.
- c1425(?c1400) Wycl.Apol.(Dub 245)2 : Þe name of þe bischop, or heldarman.