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.
He is known as a venerable master of the tea ceremony.
Many young researchers gathered for the lecture by that venerable authority.
Compound of 老 (rou, 'old') and 大家 (taika, 'master, authority'). The reading ろうたいか follows standard on'yomi.