ancient

¹an·cient

adj \ˈān(t)-shənt, ˈāŋ(k)-shənt\

Definition of ANCIENT

1

: having had an existence of many years

2

: of or relating to a remote period, to a time early in history, or to those living in such a period or time; especially : of or relating to the historical period beginning with the earliest known civilizations and extending to the fall of the western Roman Empire in a.d. 476

3

: having the qualities of age or long existence: as a : venerable b : old-fashioned, antique

— an·cient·ness noun

Examples of ANCIENT

1. The people in the village still observe the ancient customs of their ancestors.
2. a grove of ancient oak trees
3. The practice was more common in ancient times than it is now.
4. the gods of the ancient Romans
5. She studied both ancient and modern history.

Origin of ANCIENT

Middle English ancien, from Anglo-French, from Vulgar Latin *anteanus, from Latin ante before — more at ante-

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to ANCIENT

Synonyms: aged, age-old, antediluvian, antique, dateless, hoar, hoary, immemorial, old, venerable

Antonyms: modern, new, recent

Related Words: aging (or ageing), mature; antiquated, archaic, archaistic, dated, fusty, geriatric, medieval (also mediaeval), moldy, Noachian, obsolete, outmoded, out-of-date, passé; old-fashioned, old-time, old-world, retro, vintage; durable, enduring, lasting, long-lived, permanent; ageless, hallowed, time-honored, timeless, time-tested, timeworn, traditional, tried, tried-and-true; classic, classical; prehistoric (also prehistorical), primeval, primordial

Near Antonyms: fresh, vernal, young, youthful; contemporary, current, latest, mod, novel, present-day, ultramodern; untested, untried; brand-new, unused, unworn

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See Synonym Discussion at old