"bordering on old age, somewhat old," 1610s, from elder + -ly (1). Now, generally, "old." Old English ealdorlic meant "chief, princely, excellent, authentic." Old English also had related eldernliche "of old time," literally "forefatherly."
elderly residents could remember the construction of the first skyscraper
elated
elation
elbow
eld
elder
elderly
eldest
eldorado
Eldred
eldritch
Eleanor