difference between "elderly" and "old"

[Sultano]

Hi!
is there a difference between " elderly " and " old" ?

[Alan]

Hi,

When used to describe people, 'elderly' is used as a polite way of saying 'old'. There is a road sign used in certain places warning drivers that there may be old people walking in the area and this is a sign referred to as: Elderly people crossing. 'Old' of course can be used for people and things. Sometimes for humorous effect you can use 'elderly' for things as in: I'm afraid I shall have to buy a new car because my present one is getting a bit elderly.

Alan
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[Jamie (K)]

And don't confuse "elder" (which just means older) and "elderly"!

Once a foreigner I knew was very excited to make the acquaintance of a nice young woman in our office. He thought she was a little too young for him, so he made the mistake of saying, "I wonder if she has an elderly sister!" He meant to ask if she had an OLDER sister, but he wound up asking if she had a sister who was of retirement age.

[Sultano]

[Jamie (K)]

There is no difference between "older" and "elder". The reason for the different vowel is a phonological change that happened hundreds of years ago that changed the O to an E. This change has been "undone" in many parts of the English-speaking world, and there people again say "older" and "oldest". There is no difference in meaning.

[Haihao]

No difference in that realm, as Jamie pointed out, I think. Just a digression but "elder" could have other meanings as a noun while 'older' couldn't.

[SiCantikManis]

I have heard "olderly" used for "elderly". Is this good?

Many thanks,
Cantik
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[Jamie (K)]

I don't think there's any word "olderly". I can't find it in any dictionary, and I've never heard it in my entire life.

[SiCantikManis]

I heard it in the TV series "Desperate housewives".
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[Jamie (K)]

[SiCantikManis]

Come to think of it, Gabrielle (Eva Longoria) was being sarcastic about her deceased mother-in-law.

Thanks Jamie, for your attention.
Cantik
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[Prezbucky]

Where's the love for "geriatric"?

hehe

Another cool way to say "old" is this:

Venerable

(please note that "venerable" does not always mean "old" -- there are other meanings)
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