council of elders
2
4.4
- noun
- /ˈkaʊnsl əv ˈɛldərz/
:
consejo de ancianos
- You can't know these things for certain, but it's tempting to imagine that, in peaceful times, these communities were controlled by councils of elders or the heads of important families.
Examples
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During the village meeting, decisions were made by the council of elders regarding land use.
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The council of elders wants to know, will you stop collecting tribute for the temple?
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Each village is governed by a council of elders and is represented by a chief who holds a ritual office.
Academic text (1998) -
Close behind is the council of elders, their conical hats bright with pink and red feathers.
Academic text (2010) -
Later that day, the yabol, the council of elders, gathers to plan subsequent festival events.
Academic text (2008) -
The council of elders continues to be politically viable because Nigeria's federal administration officially recognizes it as the "traditional" government of the people and, more importantly, because socioeconomic facilities still largely reside in clans with communal landownership.
Academic text (2008) -
The council of elders met to discuss important issues affecting the community.
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A council of elders guides the younger members of the community through their wisdom and experience.
Synonyms
572
2.9
A group of people who meet to discuss and make decisions about a town or organization
How Senior
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly and transparently derived from 'council' (a body that discusses or advises) combined with 'elders' (older, respected people), with 'of' simply linking the two; a B1 learner who knows these words can infer it denotes a group of senior community members who make decisions or give guidance. This noun + of + noun composition is common cross-linguistically and follows ordinary compositional patterns, supporting full transparency.
Etymology
Council of elders comes from the simple picture of a council, a meeting of respected elders, the oldest and wisest people, sitting together to give advice and make decisions. That's why it means 'a group of the oldest and most experienced people who give advice or make important decisions for a community'.