ancient

¹ American  

[eyn-shuhnt] / ˈeɪn ʃənt /

adjective

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

   ancient history.

   Synonyms:

   early

   Antonyms:

   recent

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

   ancient rocks;

   ancient trees.

   Synonyms:

   immemorial, age-old

   Antonyms:

   recent, modern, new

3. very old; aged.

   She's fifteen, which is ancient for a dog that size.

4. being old in wisdom and experience; venerable.

5. old-fashioned or antique.

   Synonyms:

   vintage, retro, old-time, old-fashioned, olden, antique

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noun

1. a person who lived in ancient times.

2. one of the classical writers of antiquity.

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

4. ancients,

   1. Usually the ancients the civilized peoples, nations, or cultures of antiquity, as the Greeks, Romans, Hebrews, and Egyptians.

   2. the writers, artists, and philosophers of ancient times, especially those of Greece and Rome.

ancient ² American  

[eyn-shuhnt] / ˈeɪn ʃənt /

noun

Obsolete.

1. the bearer of a flag.

2. a flag, banner, or standard; ensign.

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ancient ¹ British  

/ ˈeɪnʃənt /

adjective

1. dating from very long ago

   ancient ruins

2. very old; aged

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

4. law having existed since before the time of legal memory

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noun

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

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

3. archaic an old man

ancient ² British  

/ ˈeɪnʃənt /

noun

1. a flag or other banner; standard

2. a standard-bearer; ensign

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Related Words

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 Old-fashioned may disparage something as being out of date or may approve something old as being superior: an old-fashioned hat; old-fashioned courtesy.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

• ancientness noun

Etymology

Origin of ancient¹

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”+ -ānus adjective suffix; late Middle English forms with -t- developed by confusion with the present participle ending -nt; -an, ante-, -ent

Origin of ancient²

First recorded in 1550–60; variant of ensign by confusion with ancient ¹

Example Sentences

It would be a complicated move, because this ancient office - which dates back to 1478 - is knitted into the devolution settlement itself.

From BBC

Isidora is an example of ancient syncretism at work: a Greek woman, painted in a Roman tradition, whose burial followed Egyptian customs of mummification.

From The Wall Street Journal

Much of “The Powerful Primate” concerns how ancient humanity learned to make tools and fire, allowing big increases in population density.

From The Wall Street Journal

The then Lord Chief Justice eventually stopped the pursuit of some journalists , saying they were being unjustly treated like criminal conspirators, concluding the law was ancient and difficult.

From BBC

“My story is endless; it never repeats itself,” he says toward the end of the program, framed by ancient pillars in the Valley of the Kings.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• age-old
• antique
• archaic
• hoary
• old-fashioned
• timeworn
• venerable