Old Definition

ōld
older, oldest, olds, eldest
adjective
older, oldest, eldest
Having lived or existed for a relatively long time; far advanced in years or life.
American Heritage
Of, like, or characteristic of aged people; specif., mature in judgment, wise, etc.
Webster's New World
Relatively advanced in age.
Pamela is our oldest child.
American Heritage
Made or produced some time ago; not new.
Webster's New World
Of a certain or specified age or duration.
A child ten years old.
Webster's New World
noun
olds
A person of a specified age.
A six-year-old.
Webster's New World
Time long past; yore.
Days of old.
Webster's New World
Old people.
Webster's New World
Something old.
Webster's New World

People who are old; old beings; the older generation; usually used with the.

A civilised society should always look after the old in the community.
Wiktionary
verb

Eye dialect spelling of hold.

Wiktionary
Synonyms:

Other Word Forms of Old

Adjective

Base Form:
old
Comparative:
older
Superlative:
eldest

Origin of Old

  • From Middle English old, ald, from Old English ald, eald (“old, aged, ancient, antique, primeval"), from Proto-Germanic *aldaz (“grown-up"), originally a participle form from Proto-Indo-European *altós (“grown, tall, big"). Cognate with Scots auld (“old"), North Frisian ool, ual, uul (“old"), Saterland Frisian oold (“old"), West Frisian âld (“old"), Dutch oud (“old"), Low German old (“old"), German alt (“old"), Swedish äldre (“older, elder"), Icelandic eldri (“older, elder"), Latin altus (“high, tall, grown big, lofty"). Related to eld.

    From Wiktionary

  • A representation of the pronunciation of hold by a speaker whose dialect lacks the voiceless glottal fricative or transition (IPA: [h]).

    From Wiktionary

  • Middle English from Old English eald al-2 in Indo-European roots

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

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