ancient
an-cient · adjective
Definitions
adjective
- 1.
Belonging to the very distant past and no longer in existence.
- 2.
Having been in existence for a very long time.
- 3.
(informal) Very old; aged.
- 4.
(noun) A person who lived in ancient times; often used in plural.
Phrases & expressions
- •ancient history — Events from long ago; also, something no longer relevant.
- •ancient times — The distant past, especially before the Middle Ages.
- •the Ancient World — Civilizations of the Mediterranean and Near East before the fall of Rome.
Related words
Etymology
From Old French ancien, from Vulgar Latin anteanus, from Latin ante ("before"). Related to antique and antiquity.