('chiefly Brit') You should respect 'your elders and betters'. [=people who are older and more important than you]
('formal') He was my 'elder' by 11 months. [=he was 11 months older than I was]
He was told to respect his 'elders'. [=people who were older than he was]
(..) Sir, everyday he has to take these. I swear I'm not lying. Sir, since he was fired, he's been depressed. He can't help it. Sir, you're his elder. Please forgive him. Go tell him to find someone to vouch for you. God bless you. Don't leave the building. (..)2011 A Separation