Eldest

a. superl. Forms: 1 eldest(a, ældest(a, (WS. ieldest(a, yldest(a), yltst, 2 ylste, 2–3 ealdeste, eldeste, 3 eldast, -ost, -ust, (heldest, 5 eeldist), 3– eldest, north. eildest. [OE. ęldest(a, superl. of OE. ald (WS. eald) OLD; cf. OFris. eldest(a, OHG. altist(o (mod.G. ältest(e), Goth. alþist(a:—OTeut. *aldisto- (-on-). See ELDER a.]

  The original form of the superlative of OLD; now superseded by OLDEST exc. in special uses.

  † 1.  Of persons or things: Most aged, farthest advanced in age. Also absol. (quasi-sb.). Obs. in general sense: replaced by OLDEST.

  It is, however, still not unusual to speak of ‘the (two or three) eldest members of a family,’ ‘the eldest of the company,’ etc.; but this is due either to some slight notion of precedence or superior rank conferred by seniority, or to the wish to avoid the implication that the persons are, absolutely, old.

c. 1000.  Ags. Gosp., Matt. xxiii. 11. Seðe eower yltst [c. 1160 Hatton G. yldest] sy beo se eower þen.

c. 1205.  Lay., 2721. Gloigin hehte þa alre elduste [1250 heldeste].

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 5847. Wid the eldest folk of israel.

1523.  Ld. Berners, Froiss., I. liii. [lii.] 190. The eldest man that lyuyng neuer saw nor herde of the lyke.

1559.  Morwyng, Evomym., 323. Put a sextar or .xx vnces of the eldest wine, in a potte.

1607–12.  Bacon, Parents & Childr., Ess. (Arb.), 274/1. A man shall see where there is a howsefull of Children, one or two of the eldest respected.

1611.  Bible, John viii. 9. They … went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, euen vnto the last [so 1881 in R. V.].

  2.  The first-born, or the oldest surviving (member of a family, son, daughter, etc.). Also quasi-sb.

c. 1000.  Ælfric, Gen. xliv. 12. He sohte fram þam yldestan oþ þone ʓingestan.

c. 1175.  Cott. Hom., 227. Se asprang of Noes ylste sune.

c. 1205.  Lay., 2930. Þa ældeste dohter haihte Gornoille [1275 eldeste].

c. 1230.  Hali Meid., 41. Heo of alle unþeawes is his ealdeste dohter.

1297.  R. Glouc. (1724), 381. Normandye hys erytage he ȝef hys eldoste sone Roberd þe Courtese.

a. 1300.  Cursor M., 4119. An was eildest o þe elleuen … ruben.

1398.  Trevisa, Barth. De P. R., VI. xiv. 199. Lawe woll that the eldest sone haue the more parte of therytage.

1536.  Wriothesley, Chron. (1875), I. 50. The Erle of Ruttlandes eldyste daughter.

1595.  Shaks., John, I. 159. Good old sir Roberts wiues eldest sonne.

1715.  De Foe, Fam. Instruct., I. iv. (1841), I. 86. Why not … with you as well as with your eldest sister.

1788.  J. Powell, Devises (1827), II. 365. A testator … desired that the first annuity … might devolve upon the eldest child.

1818.  Cruise, Digest, VI. 320. The eldest son had but an estate for life.

1887.  R. Garnett, Carlyle, 12. Carlyle was the eldest of nine children.

  3.  Earliest, first produced; first, most ancient. arch. Also quasi-sb.

c. 897.  K. Ælfred, Gregory’s Past., xliii. 313. Ðæt we ʓemyndʓiað ðære scylde þe ure ieldesta mæʓ us on forworhte.

1340.  Ayenb., 104. He [God] is þe eldeste and þe meste yknawe.

c. 1449.  Pecock, Repr., III. xix. 406. In the eeldist tyme.

1593.  Hooker, Eccl. Pol., IV. vii. Neither is the example of the eldest Churches a whit more auailable.

1602.  Shaks., Ham., III. iii. 37. My offence … hath the primall eldest curse vpon’t.

1649.  Selden, Laws Eng., I. xxxix. (1739), 59. Of Imprisonment there was little use in the eldest times.

1681.  Dryden, Abs. & Achit., 458. And Self-defence is Nature’s Eldest Law.

1773.  Monboddo, Language (1774), I. I. vii. 87. Matter must be the eldest of things.

1801.  Southey, Thalaba, XI. xii. Thou the eldest, thou the wisest, Guide me.

1819.  Shelley, Cenci, V. iv. 101. Plead with the swift frost That it should spare the eldest flower of spring.

  † 4.  Mil. Senior in rank or standing. Obs.

1721.  Lond. Gaz., No. 5930/1. The eldest Battallion of Foot-Guards.

  5.  In Card-playing. Eldest hand, the first player; the right of playing first.

1599.  Minsheu, Dialogues Sp. & Eng. (1623), 26/2. I did lift an ace … I a fower … I a sixe, whereby I am the eldest hand.

1680.  Cotton, Compl. Gamester, in Singer, Hist. Cards (1816), 342. If there be three kings, &c. turned up, the eldest hand wins it.

1719.  D’Urfey, Pills, I. 99. The ’tothers eldest Hand Gave Hopes to make a Jest on ’t.

1876.  A. Campbell-Walker, Correct Card (1880), Gloss. 11. Eldest hand, the player on the dealer’s left hand.

  † 6.  Law. Eldest part: (see quot.) Obs.

1641.  Termes de la Ley, 137. The eldest part. Enitia pars is that part that upon partition amongst coparceners falls unto the eldest sister or auncientest coparcener.

  7.  Comb., as eldest-born, -hearted.

1605.  Shaks., Lear, I. i. 55. Gonerill, Our eldest borne, speake first.

1840.  Carlyle, Heroes, i. 7. Man … the eldest born of a certain genealogy.

1853.  Kingsley, Hypatia, I. i. 12. They had elected Pambo for their abbot—abba—father—the wisest, eldest-hearted and headed of them.