Synonyms for oldest

Grammar : Adj

Spell : ohl-dist

Phonetic Transcription : ˈoʊl dɪst

Définition of oldest

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 aged

Example sentences :

"It was good Medicine, too," spoke up the oldest of the dancing women.
Extract from : « The Trail Book » by Mary Austin

The last descendant of one of the oldest families of France!
Extract from : « The Dream » by Emile Zola

When, however, suitable time had elapsed, the oldest of the party spoke.
Extract from : « The Last of the Mohicans » by James Fenimore Cooper

He was the son of Pan, and the oldest of the satyrs, who were supposed to be half goat.
Extract from : « Buried Cities: Pompeii, Olympia, Mycenae » by Jennie Hall

Out in the path, under the oldest tree of all, she dropped his hand and faced him.
Extract from : « Tiverton Tales » by Alice Brown

The oldest daughter, Mary Ella, died in 1854, aged fourteen.
Extract from : « Cleveland Past and Present » by Maurice Joblin

He has four children, the oldest and youngest being daughters.
Extract from : « Cleveland Past and Present » by Maurice Joblin

Thus there remains only Africa, the oldest yet the last-explored part of the world.
Extract from : « Freeland » by Theodor Hertzka

For Mrs. O'Callaghan was as young as her youngest child, and as old as her oldest.
Extract from : « The Widow O'Callaghan's Boys » by Gulielma Zollinger

Major Harper, the oldest, most refined and most soldierly of them all, was also the handsomest.
Extract from : « The Cavalier » by George Washington Cable

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