ancient

ancient

ancient¹ [ān′chənt, ān′shənt]

adj.

[ME auncien < OFr ancien < VL * anteanus < L ante, before: -t by infl. of -ENT]

1. of times long past; belonging to the early history of the world, esp. before the end of the Western Roman Empire (A.D. 476)

2. having existed a long time; very old

3. old-fashioned; antiquated

4. Archaic having the wisdom, dignity, etc. of age; venerable

n.

1. a person who lived in ancient times

2. an aged person

SYN.- OLD

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the ancients

1. the people who lived in ancient times

2. the ancient or classical writers and artists, esp. of Greco-Roman times

ancientness

n.

ancient² [ān′chənt, ān′shənt]

n.

[confusion of ENSIGN with earlier ancien, ANCIENT¹] Archaic

1. an ensign, or flag

2. a person carrying an ensign