ancient

adjective an·cient \ ˈān(t)-shənt , ˈāŋ(k)-shənt \

Definition of ancient

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

3 : having the qualities of age or long existence: such as

a : venerable

b : old-fashioned, antique

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ancientness

noun

See ancient defined for English-language learners

See ancient defined for kids

Examples of ancient in a Sentence

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

Origin and Etymology of ancient

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

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First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

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ancient Synonyms

Synonym Discussion of ancient

old, ancient, venerable, antique, antiquated, archaic, obsolete mean having come into existence or use in the more or less distant past. old may apply to either actual or merely relative length of existence.

- old houses
- an old sweater of mine

ancient applies to occurrence, existence, or use in or survival from the distant past.

- ancient accounts of dragons

venerable stresses the impressiveness and dignity of great age.

- the family's venerable patriarch

antique applies to what has come down from a former or ancient time.

- collected antique Chippendale furniture

antiquated implies being discredited or outmoded or otherwise inappropriate to the present time.

- antiquated teaching methods

archaic implies having the character or characteristics of a much earlier time.

- the play used archaic language to convey a sense of period

obsolete may apply to something regarded as no longer acceptable or useful even though it is still in existence.

- a computer that makes earlier models obsolete

ancient

noun

Definition of ancient

1 : an aged living being

a penniless ancient

2 : a person who lived in ancient times:

a ancients plural : the civilized people of antiquity; especially : those of the classical nations (see classical 2a)

b : one of the classical authors

Plutarch and other ancients

3 : an ancient coin

Origin and Etymology of ancient

see ¹ancient

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1502

in the meaning defined at sense 1

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ancient

noun

Definition of ancient

1 archaic : ensign, standard, flag

2 obsolete : the bearer of an ensign

Origin and Etymology of ancient

alteration of ensign

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1554

in the meaning defined at sense 1

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ANCIENT Defined for English Language Learners

ancient

adjective

Definition of ancient for English Language Learners

: very old : having lived or existed for a very long time
: of, coming from, or belonging to a time that was long ago in the past

ANCIENT Defined for Kids

ancient

adjective an·cient \ ˈān-shənt \

Definition of ancient for Students

1 : very old

ancient customs

2 : of or relating to a time long past or to those living in such a time

ancient Egypt

ancient

noun

Definition of ancient for Students

1 : a very old person

2 ancients plural : the civilized peoples of ancient times and especially of Greece and Rome

Law Dictionary

ancient

adjective an·cient

legal Definition of ancient

: existing from a long past date; specifically : having had an uninterrupted existence of 20 to 30 or more years

Note: Things and especially documents that are ancient benefit from a presumption that they are valid even though proof of their validity may be unavailable due to lapse of memory, absence of witnesses, or loss of documents.