oldwife

Old Old, a. [Compar. {Older}; superl. {Oldest}.] [OE. old, ald, AS. ald, eald; akin to D. oud, OS. ald, OFries. ald, old, G. alt, Goth. alpeis, and also to Goth. alan to grow up, Icel. ala to bear, produce, bring up, L. alere to nourish. Cf. {Adult}, {Alderman}, {Aliment}, {Auld}, {Elder}.] [1913 Webster] 1. Not young; advanced far in years or life; having lived till toward the end of the ordinary term of living; as, an old man; an old age; an old horse; an old tree. [1913 Webster]

Let not old age disgrace my high desire. --Sir P. Sidney. [1913 Webster]

The melancholy news that we grow old. --Young. [1913 Webster]

2. Not new or fresh; not recently made or produced; having existed for a long time; as, old wine; an old friendship. ``An old acquaintance.'' --Camden. [1913 Webster]

3. Formerly existing; ancient; not modern; preceding; original; as, an old law; an old custom; an old promise. ``The old schools of Greece.'' --Milton. ``The character of the old Ligurians.'' --Addison. [1913 Webster]

4. Continued in life; advanced in the course of existence; having (a certain) length of existence; -- designating the age of a person or thing; as, an infant a few hours old; a cathedral centuries old. [1913 Webster]

And Pharaoh said unto Jacob, How old art thou? --Cen. xlvii. 8. [1913 Webster]

Note: In this use old regularly follows the noun that designates the age; as, she was eight years old. [1913 Webster]

5. Long practiced; hence, skilled; experienced; cunning; as, an old offender; old in vice. [1913 Webster]

Vane, young in years, but in sage counsel old. --Milton. [1913 Webster]

6. Long cultivated; as, an old farm; old land, as opposed to {new} land, that is, to land lately cleared. [1913 Webster]

7. Worn out; weakened or exhausted by use; past usefulness; as, old shoes; old clothes. [1913 Webster]

8. More than enough; abundant. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]

If a man were porter of hell gate, he should have old turning the key. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

9. Aged; antiquated; hence, wanting in the mental vigor or other qualities belonging to youth; -- used disparagingly as a term of reproach. [1913 Webster]

10. Old-fashioned; wonted; customary; as of old; as, the good old times; hence, colloquially, gay; jolly. [1913 Webster]

11. Used colloquially as a term of cordiality and familiarity. ``Go thy ways, old lad.'' --Shak. [1913 Webster]

{Old age}, advanced years; the latter period of life.

{Old bachelor}. See {Bachelor}, 1.

{Old Catholics}. See under {Catholic}.

{Old English}. See under {English}. n., 2.

{Old Nick}, {Old Scratch}, the devil.

{Old lady} (Zo["o]l.), a large European noctuid moth ({Mormo maura}).

{Old maid}. (a) A woman, somewhat advanced in years, who has never been married; a spinster. (b) (Bot.) A West Indian name for the pink-flowered periwinkle ({Vinca rosea}). (c) A simple game of cards, played by matching them. The person with whom the odd card is left is the old maid.

{Old man's beard}. (Bot.) (a) The traveler's joy ({Clematis Vitalba}). So named from the abundant long feathery awns of its fruit. (b) The {Tillandsia usneoides}. See {Tillandsia}.

{Old man's head} (Bot.), a columnar cactus ({Pilocereus senilis}), native of Mexico, covered towards the top with long white hairs.

{Old red sandstone} (Geol.), a series of red sandstone rocks situated below the rocks of the Carboniferous age and comprising various strata of siliceous sandstones and conglomerates. See {Sandstone}, and the Chart of {Geology}.

{Old school}, a school or party belonging to a former time, or preserving the character, manner, or opinions of a former time; as, a gentleman of the old school; -- used also adjectively; as, Old-School Presbyterians.

{Old sledge}, an old and well-known game of cards, called also {all fours}, and {high, low, Jack, and the game}.

{Old squaw} (Zo["o]l.), a duck ({Clangula hyemalis}) inhabiting the northern parts of both hemispheres. The adult male is varied with black and white and is remarkable for the length of its tail. Called also {longtailed duck}, {south southerly}, {callow}, {hareld}, and {old wife}.

{Old style}. (Chron.) See the Note under {Style}.

{Old Testament}. See {Old Testament} under {Testament}, and see {tanak}.

{Old wife}. [In the senses b and c written also {oldwife}.] (a) A prating old woman; a gossip.

Refuse profane and old wives' fables. --1 Tim. iv. 7. (b) (Zo["o]l.) The local name of various fishes, as the European black sea bream ({Cantharus lineatus}), the American alewife, etc. (c) (Zo["o]l.) A duck; the old squaw.

{Old World}, the Eastern Hemisphere. [1913 Webster]

Syn: Aged; ancient; pristine; primitive; antique; antiquated; old-fashioned; obsolete. See {Ancient}. [1913 Webster]