Eld·er a.
  1. Older; more aged, or existing longer.
     Let the elder men among us emulate their own earlier deeds.   --Jowett (Thucyd. )
  2. Born before another; prior in years; senior; earlier; older; as, his elder brother died in infancy; -- opposed to younger, and now commonly applied to a son, daughter, child, brother, etc.
     The elder shall serve the younger.   --Gen. xxv. 23.
     But ask of elder days, earth's vernal hour.   --Keble.
  Elder hand Card Playing, the hand playing, or having the right to play, first.
  elder hand
       n : the card player on the dealer's left [syn: eldest hand]