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# eldest

adjective (eldest — superlative of old, used for family); noun (the eldest)

«eldest» in the English dictionary: everyday and in Jewish tradition — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. Eldest means oldest, used for people in the same family: «my eldest brother». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/eldest/#m1)
2. The eldest is the oldest child in a family. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/eldest/#m2)

### In the lessons

In stories and family talk eldest shows age order among brothers and sisters. In maths problems you may compare ages to find the eldest. Phrases: «the eldest son», «my eldest», «eldest of three».

### Examples

- Tom is the eldest of four children. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/eldest/#x1)
- My eldest sister is at university. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/eldest/#x2)
- The eldest daughter looked after the little ones. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/eldest/#x3)
- Sara is 12, Ben 9, Mo 7; who is the eldest? [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/eldest/#x4)
- In fairy tales the eldest brother often fails first. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/eldest/#x5)
- She's my eldest. (her oldest child) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/eldest/#x6)
- Well, the eldest son undertook the task. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/eldest/#x7)

### Note

Only for family members: «my eldest brother», but «the oldest building». Elder (comparative) is only used before nouns or with «the»: «my elder sister»; you say «older than», never «elder than». Maths: the eldest has the largest age.

## In Jewish tradition

In stories and family talk eldest shows age order among brothers and sisters. In maths problems you may compare ages to find the eldest. Phrases: «the eldest son», «my eldest», «eldest of three».

### Examples

- And he searched, beginning at the eldest, and leaving off at the youngest; and the goblet was found in Benjamin's sack. (Torah GEN.44.12, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/E/eldest/#x1)
- And David was the youngest; and the three eldest followed Saul. — (Prophets 1SA.17.14, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/E/eldest/#x2)
- Then he took his eldest son that should have reigned in his stead, and offered him for a burnt-offering upon the wall. (Prophets 2KI.3.27, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/E/eldest/#x3)
- And it fell on a day when his sons and his daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house, (Writings JOB.1.13, JPS 1917) [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/E/eldest/#x4)

### Note

Only for family members: «my eldest brother», but «the oldest building». Elder (comparative) is only used before nouns or with «the»: «my elder sister»; you say «older than», never «elder than». Maths: the eldest has the largest age.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «eldest» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/E/eldest/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«eldest» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/eldest.html) on Mova free.
- [Trees and pragmatics of «eldest» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/judaism/E/eldest/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«eldest» in the Judaism dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/judaism/w/eldest.html) on Mova free.