noun
venerable authority; elderly master
Refers to an older person who is highly respected and recognized as an expert or master in a field, often in academic, artistic, or traditional contexts.
彼は茶道の老大家として知られている。
He is known as a venerable master of the tea ceremony.
その老大家の講演には多くの若手研究者が集まった。
Many young researchers gathered for the lecture by that venerable authority.
巨匠 is often used for a great master in arts or crafts, similar to 老大家, but does not inherently emphasize old age.
Compound of 老 (rou, 'old') and 大家 (taika, 'master, authority'). The reading ろうたいか follows standard on'yomi.