ancient

¹an·cient

adjective \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archaic, archaistic, dated, fusty, geriatric, medieval (also mediaeval), moldy, Noachian, obsolete, outmoded, out-of-date, passé; old-fashioned, old-time, old-world, retro, vintage; durable, enduring, lasting, long-lived, permanent; ageless, hallowed, time-honored, timeless,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

See Synonym Discussion at old

²ancient

noun

Definition of ANCIENT

1

: an aged living being <a penniless ancient>

2

: a person who lived in ancient times:

a plural : the civilized people of antiquity; especially : those of the classical nations

b : one of the classical authors <Plutarch and other ancients>

3

: an ancient coin

First Known Use of ANCIENT

1502

³ancient

noun

Definition of ANCIENT

1

archaic : ensign, standard, flag

2

obsolete : the bearer of an ensign

Origin of ANCIENT

alteration of ensign

First Known Use: 1554