Definition of ancient
(Entry 1 of 3)
1
: having had an existence of many years
ancient customs
2
: of or relating to a remote period, to a time early in history, or to those living in such a period or time
ancient Egyptians
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
studied both ancient and modern history
ancient
noun (1)Definition of ancient (Entry 2 of 3)
1
: a person who lived in ancient times:
a
ancients plural
: the civilized people of antiquity
especially
: those of the classical nations (see classical sense 2a)
b
: one of the classical authors
Plutarch and other ancients
2
: an aged living being
a penniless ancient
3
: an ancient coin
ancient
noun (2)Definition of ancient (Entry 3 of 3)
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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The first known use of ancient was in the 14th century
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