English Explanatory Dictionary

ancient

English dictionary entry

Meanings

adj
  1. Having lasted from a remote period; having been of long duration; of great age, very old.
  2. Existent or occurring in time long past, usually in remote ages; belonging to or associated with antiquity; old, as opposed to modern.
  3. Relating to antiquity as a primarily European historical period; the time before the Middle Ages.
  4. Experienced; versed.
  5. Former; sometime.
noun
  1. A person who is very old.
  2. A person who lived in ancient times.
  3. One of the senior members of the Inns of Court or of Chancery.
  4. A senior; an elder; a predecessor.
noun
  1. A flag, banner, standard or ensign.
  2. The bearer of a flag; ensign.

Pronunciation

/ˈeɪn.ʃənt/ /ˈeɪn.t͡ʃənt/ /ˈeɪŋk.ʃənt/ en-us-ancient.ogg /ˈæn.ʃənt/ /ˈæn.t͡ʃənt/

Word forms

ancient ancienter more ancient ancientest most ancient anchient aunchient auncient auntient awncient awntient ancyent antient ancients

Etymology

From Middle English auncyen, from Old French ancien, from Vulgar Latin *anteānus, composed of Latin ante (“before”) + -ānus (adjective-forming suffix). The non-etymological /t/ is by analogy with the common ending -ent.

Synonyms

eldern hoary aged oldster senior citizen forerunner geriatric antique antecessor

Antonyms

modern

Related words

antic antiquarian antiquary antiquated antique antiquity

Derived words

AADAOPA anciency ancient alien ancient astronaut ancient document Ancient Egypt ancient grain Ancient Greece Ancient Greek ancient history ancientism ancient Kangleipak ancient lights anciently Ancient Macedonian ancient marineress ancient monument ancient Near Eastern ancientness ancient regime Ancient Rome ancientry ancients ancient times nonancient superancient unancient
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