elder, eldest

O.E. (Mercian) eldra, eldrost, comp. and superl. of eald, ald "old;" only Eng. survival of umlaut in comparison. Superseded by older, oldest since 16c. Elder statesman (1921) originally was a transl. of Jap. genro. Elderly is 1611; elder was used in biblical translation for Gk. presbyter. The O.E. for "grandfather" was ealdfæder.