Nestor

noun

Nes·​tor ˈne-stər 

-ˌstȯr

1

: a king of Pylos who serves in his old age as a counselor to the Greeks at Troy

2

often not capitalized : one who is a patriarch or leader in a field

Did you know?

Nestor was another character from the Iliad, the eldest of the Greek leaders in the Trojan War. A great warrior as a young man, he was now noted for his wisdom and his talkativeness, both of which increased as he aged. These days, a nestor is not necessarily long-winded, but merely wise and generous with his advice.

Synonyms

• dean
• doyen
• elder
• elder statesman
• éminence grise
• senior

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web

King, Nestor Cortes, Clay Holmes, Ron Marinaccio and Clarke Schmidt all throw it. —Tyler Kepner, New York Times, 12 Apr. 2023

Prosecutors said Fernández de Kirchner directed public works contracts to the friend, Lazaro Baez, who sent money back to Fernandez de Kirchner and her late husband, Nestor Kirchner, also a former Argentine president. —Politifact Staff Writer, Dallas News, 6 Apr. 2023

For an ambitious workout, head to the southwest side of the beach and hike up above the hills to reach Nestor's Cave. —Jacqui Gifford, Travel + Leisure, 3 Apr. 2023

Word History

Etymology

Latin, from Greek Nestōr

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1