Ruling elder

Ruling elder
Elder Eld"er, n. [AS. ealdor an elder, prince, fr. eald old. See {Old}, and cf. {Elder}, a., {Alderman}.] 1. One who is older; a superior in age; a senior. --1 Tim. v. 1. [1913 Webster]

2. An aged person; one who lived at an earlier period; a predecessor. [1913 Webster]

Carry your head as your elders have done. --L'Estrange. [1913 Webster]

3. A person who, on account of his age, occupies the office of ruler or judge; hence, a person occupying any office appropriate to such as have the experience and dignity which age confers; as, the elders of Israel; the elders of the synagogue; the elders in the apostolic church. [1913 Webster]

Note: In the modern Presbyterian churches, elders are lay officers who, with the minister, compose the church session, with authority to inspect and regulate matters of religion and discipline. In some churches, pastors or clergymen are called elders, or presbyters. [1913 Webster]

4. (M. E. Ch.) A clergyman authorized to administer all the sacraments; as, a traveling elder. [1913 Webster]

{Presiding elder} (Meth. Ch.), an elder commissioned by a bishop to have the oversight of the churches and preachers in a certain district.

{Ruling elder}, a lay presbyter or member of a Presbyterian church session. --Schaff. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • ruling elder — an elder in a Presbyterian church. [1585 95] * * * …   Universalium

  • ruling elder — noun : elder III 4b …   Useful english dictionary

  • Elder — Eld er, n. [AS. ealdor an elder, prince, fr. eald old. See {Old}, and cf. {Elder}, a., {Alderman}.] 1. One who is older; a superior in age; a senior. 1 Tim. v. 1. [1913 Webster] 2. An aged person; one who lived at an earlier period; a predecessor …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • elder — Synonyms and related words: Aaronic priesthood, Bible clerk, Bible reader, Establishment, Father Time, Melchizedek priesthood, Methuselah, Nestor, Old Paar, Seventy, VIP, acolyte, age, alderman, almoner, anagnost, ancestors, antecedent,… …   Moby Thesaurus

  • elder — I. a. 1. Older, senior, earlier born. 2. Senior, ranking, previously appointed or commissioned. 3. Earlier, more ancient, ancient, olden. II. n. 1. Senior, superior in age. 2. Old man, aged man, venerable man. 3 …   New dictionary of synonyms

  • ELDER — (Heb. זָקֵן, zaken). In Israel, as among all other ancient peoples, the elder is not only a person of advanced age, but also a man of distinct social grade (cf. šībum in Akkadian, senator in Latin, geron in Greek, and sheikh in Arabic). The… …   Encyclopedia of Judaism

  • elder — elder1 [el′dər] adj. [ME < OE (Mercian) eldra, ældra, compar. < base of ald, eald, OLD] 1. born or brought forth earlier than another or others; exceeding another in age; senior; older 2. Obs. of longer standing or superior rank, position,… …   English World dictionary

  • Elder (Christianity) — An elder (in Greek, πρεσβυτερος [ presbyteros ] ; see Presbyter) in Christianity is a person valued for his wisdom who accordingly holds a particular position of responsibility in a Christian group. However, elders exist throughout world cultures …   Wikipedia

  • elder — elder1 /el deuhr/, adj. a compar. of old with eldest as superl. 1. of greater age; older. 2. of higher rank; senior: an elder officer. 3. of or pertaining to former times; earlier: Much that was forbidden by elder custom is accepted today. n. 4.… …   Universalium

  • Ruling Queens of Númenor — In J. R. R. Tolkien s Middle earth legendarium, the Ruling Queens of Númenor were Dúnedain women who ruled the kingdom of Númenor. Out of Númenor s twenty five rulers, only three were female. Although the females in Tolkien s writings generally… …   Wikipedia

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