ancient

[ eyn-shuhnt ]

/ ˈeɪn ʃənt /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR ancient ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

of or in time long past, especially before the end of the Western Roman Empire a.d. 476: ancient history.

dating from a remote period; of great age: ancient rocks; ancient trees.

very old; aged: an ancient folk tale.

being old in wisdom and experience; venerable.

old-fashioned or antique.

noun

a person who lived in ancient times.

one of the classical writers of antiquity.

a very old or aged person, especially if venerable or patriarchal.

ancients,

the civilized peoples, nations, or cultures of antiquity, as the Greeks, Romans, Hebrews, and Egyptians (usually preceded by the).
the writers, artists, and philosophers of ancient times, especially those of Greece and Rome.

Nearby words

anchylose, anchylostomiasis, ancien régime, ancienne noblesse, ancienne-lorette, ancient, ancient arabic order of nobles of the mystic shrine, ancient greek, ancient history, ancient lights, ancient monument

Origin of ancient

1300–50; Middle English auncien < Anglo-French; Old French ancien < Vulgar Latin *antiānus, equivalent to Latin ante(ā) before (see ante-) + -ānus -an; late Middle English forms with -t- developed by confusion with the present participle ending -nt (see -ent)

ANTONYMS FOR ancient

2, 3 new, modern.

SEE MORE ANTONYMS FOR ancient ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

an·cient·ness, noun

Synonym study

2, 3. Ancient, antiquated, antique, old-fashioned refer to something dating from the past. Ancient implies existence or first occurrence in a distant past: an ancient custom. Antiquated connotes something too old or no longer useful: an antiquated building. Antique suggests a curious or pleasing quality in something old: antique furniture. Old-fashioned may disparage something as being out of date or may approve something old as being superior: an old-fashioned hat; old-fashioned courtesy.

Definition for ancient (2 of 2)

ancient

[ eyn-shuh nt ]

/ ˈeɪn ʃənt /

noun Obsolete.

the bearer of a flag.

a flag, banner, or standard; ensign.

Origin of ancient

1545–55; variant of ensign by confusion with ancient¹

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for ancient

Historical justifications for most modern celebrations can be found in the ancient world.
New Year’s Eve, Babylon Style|Candida Moss|December 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Ancient Romans exchanged gifts of figs and honey and would make sure to work part of the day as a good omen for the coming year.
New Year’s Eve, Babylon Style|Candida Moss|December 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The ancient Egyptian festival of Wepet Renpet (“opening of the year”) was not just a time of rebirth—it was dedicated to drinking.
New Year’s Eve, Babylon Style|Candida Moss|December 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
So, for that matter, was Gladiator, the previous foray into ancient legend by director Ridley Scott.
Meet Moses the Swashbuckling Israelite|James Romm|December 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Smiles, or lack thereof, did not bring down the Ancient Regime, of course.
The French Court’s Royal Ban on Smiles|William O’Connor|December 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Our mood becomes so mediæval as to almost make the ancient stained glass seem contemporary.
Stained Glass Tours in France|Charles Hitchcock Sherrill
It is impossible to place the ancient town of Tibet accurately.
The Gates of India|Thomas Holdich
All the ancient stories told of him by Whig enemies were revived, and believed by those who had long treated them with contempt.
Martin Van Buren|Edward M. Shepard
One of the most ancient arithmetics was written by the mathematician Record, who lived from the year 1500 to 1558.
Child Life in Colonial Days|Alice Morse Earle
Take up the love poems, elegies, fairy tales and prayers of the ancient Egyptians.
The Literature of Ecstasy|Albert Mordell

British Dictionary definitions for ancient (1 of 2)

ancient

/ (ˈeɪnʃənt) /

adjective

dating from very long agoancient ruins

very old; aged

of the far past, esp before the collapse of the Western Roman Empire (476 ad)Compare medieval, modern

law having existed since before the time of legal memory

noun

(often plural) a member of a civilized nation in the ancient world, esp a Greek, Roman, or Hebrew

(often plural) one of the classical authors of Greek or Roman antiquity

archaic an old man

Derived Forms

ancientness, noun

Word Origin for ancient

C14: from Old French ancien, from Vulgar Latin anteanus (unattested), from Latin ante before

British Dictionary definitions for ancient (2 of 2)

ancient

/ (ˈeɪnʃənt) /

noun archaic

a flag or other banner; standard

a standard-bearer; ensign

Word Origin for ancient

C16: changed from ensign through the influence of ancient 1

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

ancient

adjective

noun

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Origin of ancient

ANTONYMS FOR ancient

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Definition for ancient (2 of 2)

ancient

noun Obsolete.

Origin of ancient

Examples from the Web for ancient

British Dictionary definitions for ancient (1 of 2)

ancient

adjective

noun

Derived Forms

Word Origin for ancient

British Dictionary definitions for ancient (2 of 2)

ancient

noun archaic

Word Origin for ancient