eldest

Eldest is a word in English that functions as both an adjective and, less commonly, a noun. It denotes the most advanced in age within a group, and when applied to people it typically refers to the first-born child in a family: the eldest son or the eldest daughter. In everyday speech, English speakers may say oldest to express the same idea; eldest is more common in British English and in formal or historical contexts.

Etymology: Eldest derives from the Old English eld, meaning old, with the superlative suffix -est. The form is cognate with elder, which in modern English survives primarily in phrases like the elder statesman or the term elder as a family or community role.

Usage and social implications: In many cultures and historical systems, the eldest child has been accorded certain rights or responsibilities, such as hereditary succession under primogeniture. In contemporary contexts, such primacy is often symbolic or kinship-based rather than legal, and individual circumstances vary by culture and family.

Examples: The eldest child may be responsible for elder care, or the oldest sibling may coordinate family events. In literature, the eldest character is frequently cast as a figure of authority or obligation.