Ancient Definition
ānshənt
ancients, ancienter, ancientest
adjective
ancienter, ancientest
Of, relating to, or belonging to times long past, especially before the fall of the Western Roman Empire ( ad 476).
Ancient cultures.
American Heritage
Of times long past; belonging to the early history of the world, esp. before the end of the Western Roman Empire (a.d. 476)
Webster's New World
Of great age; very old.
American Heritage
Having existed a long time; very old.
Webster's New World
Having the qualities associated with age, wisdom, or long use; venerable.
American Heritage
Synonyms:
noun
ancients
A very old person.
American Heritage
A person who lived in ancient times.
Webster's New World
A person who lived in times long past.
American Heritage
An aged person.
Webster's New World
The peoples of the classical nations of antiquity.
American Heritage
idiom
the ancients
- the people who lived in ancient times
- the ancient or classical writers and artists, esp. of Greco-Roman times
Webster's New World
Other Word Forms of Ancient
Noun
Singular:
ancient
Plural:
ancientsAdjective
Base Form:
ancient
Comparative:
ancienter
Superlative:
ancientestIdioms, Phrasal Verbs Related to Ancient
- the ancients
Origin of Ancient
-
Middle English auncien from Old French from Vulgar Latin anteānus Latin ante before ant- in Indo-European roots -ānus adj. and n. suff
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
-
From Middle English auncyen, from Old French ancien (“old”), from Latin root *anteanus, from ante (“before”). Compare antique.
From Wiktionary
Alteration of ensign
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
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