Antonyms for older

Grammar : Adj

Spell : ohl-der

Phonetic Transcription : ˈoʊl dər

younger

Definition of older

Origin : Old English ald (Anglian), eald (West Saxon) "aged, antique, primeval; elder, experienced," from West Germanic *althas "grown up, adult" (cf. Old Frisian ald, Gothic alþeis, Dutch oud, German alt), originally a past participle stem of a verb meaning "grow, nourish" (cf. Gothic alan "to grow up," Old Norse ala "to nourish"), from PIE root *al- "to grow, nourish" (cf. Greek aldaino "make grow, strengthen," althein, althainein "to get well;" Latin alere "to feed, nourish, bring up, increase," altus "high," literally "grown tall," almus "nurturing, nourishing," alumnus "fosterling, step-child;" Old Irish alim "I nourish").
The usual PIE root is *sen- (see senior (adj.)). A few Indo-European languages distinguish words for "old" (vs. young) from words for "old" (vs. new), and some have separate words for aged persons as opposed to old things. Latin senex was used of aged living things, mostly persons, while vetus (literally "having many years") was used of inanimate things. Greek geraios was used mostly of humans; Greek palaios was used mostly of things, of persons only in a derogatory sense. Greek also had arkhaios, literally "belonging to the beginning," which parallels French ancien, used mostly with reference to things "of former times."
Old English also had fyrn "ancient," related to Old English feor "far, distant" (see far, and cf. Gothic fairneis, Old Norse forn "old, of old, of former times," Old High German firni "old, experienced"). The original Old English vowel is preserved in Scots auld, also in alderman. The original comparative and superlative (elder, eldest) are retained in particular uses.
First record of old-timer is from 1860. Expression old as the hills first recorded 1819. The good old days dates from 1828. Of old "of old times" is from late 14c. Old Glory for "the American flag" is first attested 1862. Old maid "woman who remains single well beyond the usual marrying age" is from 1520s; the card game is attested by that name from 1844. Old man "man who has lived long" is from c.1200; sense of "husband, father, boss" is from 1854, earlier (1830) it was military slang for "commanding officer;" old lady "wife, mother" is attested from c.1775. Old English is attested from 1701, originally as a type of font. Old boy originally was a former pupil of one of the English public schools. Old Testament attested from mid-14c.

adj most senior

Example sentences :

She was in a box with two men—one old and one young—and an older woman.
Extract from : « The Spenders » by Harry Leon Wilson

I'd rather trust your judgment now than lots of older men down there.
Extract from : « The Spenders » by Harry Leon Wilson

He was older than I, experienced with women—a lover of women, I came to understand in time.
Extract from : « The Spenders » by Harry Leon Wilson

Philip, you are older and wiser than I, and have shown already that you understand her.
Extract from : « Malbone » by Thomas Wentworth Higginson

There are only Evelyn and I, and I am fifteen years older than she.
Extract from : « Grace Harlowe's Return to Overton Campus » by Jessie Graham Flower

But they've made you older—they've burned the boy out of you with pain!
Extract from : « Way of the Lawless » by Max Brand

Andrew peered into the grim face of the older man; there was not a flicker of a smile in it.
Extract from : « Way of the Lawless » by Max Brand

"You have carried yourself well," cried several of the older squires.
Extract from : « The White Company » by Arthur Conan Doyle

The voice of the older man came with a sinister force and saturnine.
Extract from : « Within the Law » by Marvin Dana

But the older man would not permit the assertion to go uncontradicted.
Extract from : « Within the Law » by Marvin Dana

Synonyms for older

Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019