Old may apply to either actual or merely relative length of existence Elder and older are both adjectives that mean more advanced in age. older can be used of people and things ('an older sibling;' 'an older house'), but elder can only be used of people ('the elder son'). Ancient applies to occurrence, existence, or use in or survival from the distant past.
Older couple poses – Artofit
Older, elder imply having greater age than something or someone else
Older is the usual form of the comparative of old
This building is older than that one. As such, older is not just a euphemism for the blunter old but rather a more precise term for someone between middle and advanced age And unlike elderly, older does not particularly suggest frailness or infirmity, making it the natural choice in many situations. You can use the adjective older to describe elderly folks (like your older neighbors who don't drive at night any more) or a person who was born first
Her older sister was much bossier than her younger sister. Synonyms older, elder imply having greater age than something or someone else This building is older than that one Elder, now greatly restricted in application, is used chiefly to indicate seniority in age as between any two people but especially priority of birth as between children born of.
There are five meanings listed in oed's entry for the word older, one of which is labelled obsolete
See ‘meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence. My older brother and i are catholic twins He's older by eleven months, not quite a year older than me. Learn the meaning of older with clear definitions and helpful usage examples.
