ancient

== English == === Pronunciation === IPA(key): /ˈeɪn.ʃənt/, /ˈeɪn.t͡ʃənt/, /ˈeɪŋk.ʃənt/ Rhymes: -eɪnʃənt (dialectal) IPA(key): /ˈæn.ʃənt/, /ˈæn.t͡ʃənt/ === Etymology 1 === 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. ==== Alternative forms ==== anchient, aunchient, auncient, auntient, awncient, awntient, ancyent (obsolete) antient (obsolete outside freemasonry) ==== Adjective ==== ancient (comparative ancienter or more ancient, superlative ancientest or most ancient) Having lasted from a remote period; having been of long duration; of great age, very old. Existent or occurring in time long past, usually in remote ages; belonging to or associated with antiquity; old, as opposed to modern. (history) Relating to antiquity as a primarily European historical period; the time before the Middle Ages. (obsolete) Experienced; versed. (obsolete) Former; sometime. ===== Synonyms ===== (very old): aged, eldern, hoary; see also Thesaurus:old ===== Antonyms ===== modern ===== Derived terms ===== ===== Related terms ===== ===== Translations ===== ==== Noun ==== ancient (plural ancients) A person who is very old. A person who lived in ancient times. (UK, law) One of the senior members of the Inns of Court or of Chancery. (obsolete) A senior; an elder; a predecessor. ===== Synonyms ===== (person who is very old): geriatric, oldster, senior citizen; see also Thesaurus:old person (person who lived in ancient times): antique (predecessor): antecessor, forerunner; see also Thesaurus:predecessor === Etymology 2 === Corruption of ensign. ==== Noun ==== ancient (plural ancients) (heraldry, archaic) A flag, banner, standard or ensign. (obsolete, rare) The bearer of a flag; ensign. === References === The Manual of Heraldry, Fifth Edition, by Anonymous, London, 1862, online at [4] “ancient”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC. William Dwight Whitney, Benjamin E[li] Smith, editors (1911), “ancient”, in The Century Dictionary […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., →OCLC. “ancient”, in OneLook Dictionary Search. === Anagrams === cantine, catenin, tenacin, enactin