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Elder vs Ancestor - What's the difference?

elder | ancestor |

As a proper noun elder

is .

As a noun ancestor is

one from whom a person is descended, whether on the father's or mother's side, at any distance of time; a progenitor; a forefather.

elder

English

Etymology 1

From (etyl) eldra, from (etyl) . The vowel change from a'' to ''e'' triggered by the following ''i is called .

Adjective

(head)
  • Comparative of old: older, greater than another in age or seniority.
  • * The elder' of the two was also an ' elder statesman
  • * {{quote-book, year=1913, author=
    • , title=Lord Stranleigh Abroad , chapter=5 citation , passage=She removed Stranleigh’s coat with a dexterity that aroused his imagination. The elder woman returned with dressings and a sponge, which she placed on a chair.}}
    Usage notes
    The normal comparative of old'' is (m). The irregular form (m) is sometimes used with family members, but otherwise rare (except in fixed expressions such as ''elder statesman''). ''Elder'' is generally limited to attributive position (my elder brother) and does not occur in predicative position (*''my brother is elder ).

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • An older person or an older member, usually a leader, of some community.
    • We were presented to the village elder .
  • One who is older than another.
    • Respect your elders .
  • One who lived at an earlier period; a predecessor.
  • * L'Estrange
    • Carry your head as your elders have done.
  • An officer of a church, sometimes having teaching responsibilities.
  • A clergyman authorized to administer all the sacraments.
    • a travelling elder
  • (US, Mormonism) One ordained to the lowest office in the .
    • After being a member of the Church for a while, Bill was ordained to the office of elder .
    Jack had been an elder for only a few days when he received a new calling.
  • (US, Mormonism) Male missionary, title for a male missionary; title for a .
    • The elders are coming over for dinner tonight.
    One of the long-time leaders in the Church is Elder Packer.
  • (paganism, and, Heathenry) A pagan or Heathen priest or priestess.
    • Derived terms
    * elderdom * elderhood * elderly * eldership * elder statesman * elder stateswoman

    Etymology 2

    (wikipedia elder) (Sambucus) (Sambucus) From (etyl)

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A small tree, Sambucus nigra , having white flowers in a cluster, and edible purple berries
  • Any of the other species of the genus Sambucus : small trees, shrubs or herbaceous perennials with red, purple, or white/yellow berries (some of which are poisonous).
    • Derived terms
    * box elder * dwarf elder * elderberry * marsh elder

    ancestor

    English

    Alternative forms

    * ancestour (obsolete) * auncestor (obsolete) * auncestour (obsolete)

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • One from whom a person is descended, whether on the father's or mother's side, at any distance of time; a progenitor; a forefather.
  • * {{quote-magazine, date=2013-07-20, volume=408, issue=8845, magazine=(The Economist)
    • , title= Old soldiers? , passage=Whether modern, industrial man is less or more warlike than his hunter-gatherer ancestors is impossible to determine. The machine gun is so much more lethal than the bow and arrow that comparisons are meaningless.}}
  • An earlier type; a progenitor
  • (legal) One from whom an estate has descended;—the correlative of heir.
  • (figuratively) One who had the same role or function in former times.
  • * {{quote-news, year=2011, date=October 1, author=Saj Chowdhury, work=BBC Sport
    • , title= Wolverhampton 1-2 Newcastle , passage=The Magpies are unbeaten and enjoying their best run since 1994, although few would have thought the class of 2011 would come close to emulating their ancestors .}}

    Usage notes

    * There is a rare feminine form ancestress

    Derived terms

    * cenancestor

    Antonyms

    * descendant

    Anagrams

    *