elderly








adjective

  1. of advanced age; old: discounts for elderly patrons.
  2. of or relating to persons in later life.

noun

  1. (used with a plural verb) elderly people collectively; senior citizens (usually preceded by the): Doctors recommend that young children and the elderly get vaccinated.

adjective (of people)

    1. quite old; past middle age
    2. (as collective noun; preceded by the)the elderly Related adjective: geriatric
adj.

1610s, from elder + -ly (1). Old English ealdorlic meant “chief, princely, excellent, authentic.” Old English also had related eldernliche “of old time,” literally “forefatherly.”

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