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ancient

1
[ eyn-shuhnt ]
/ ˈeɪn ʃənt /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR ancient

adjective

noun

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Origin of ancient

1
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English auncien, from Anglo-French; Old French ancien, from unattested Vulgar Latin antiānus, equivalent to Latin ante(ā) “before” (see ante-) + -ānus adjective suffix (see -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 ANTONYMS FOR ancient

synonym study for ancient

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 Old-fashioned may disparage something as being out of date or may approve something old as being superior: an old-fashioned hat; old-fashioned courtesy.

OTHER WORDS FROM ancient

an·cient·ness, noun

Words nearby ancient

anchylose, anchylostomiasis, Ancienne-Lorette, ancienne noblesse, ancien régime, ancient, Ancient Greek, ancient history, ancient lights, anciently, ancient monument

Definition for ancient (2 of 2)

ancient2
[ eyn-shuhnt ]
/ ˈeɪn ʃənt /

noun Obsolete.

the bearer of a flag.
a flag, banner, or standard; ensign.

Origin of ancient

2
1545–55; variant of ensign by confusion with ancient1
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Words related to ancient

antique, age-old, venerable, hoary, old-fashioned, timeworn, archaic, antediluvian, bygone, elderly, fossil, relic, aged, remote, oldie, antiquated, early, moth-eaten, obsolete, older

Example sentences from the Web for ancient

British Dictionary definitions for ancient (1 of 2)

ancient1
/ (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

Derived forms of ancient

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)

ancient2
/ (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