ancient

Meaning

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. (obsolete) Experienced; versed.
5. (obsolete) 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. (obsolete) A senior; an elder; a predecessor.

Noun

1. A flag, banner, standard or ensign.
2. (obsolete) The bearer of a flag; ensign.

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈeɪn.ʃənt/

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.

Sentences

She specializes in the field of ancient glass .

Ancient historians described the area as Raetia and its inhabitants as Raeti.