ancient
- 01 B1 Intermediate
adj.having existed for many years.
adj.having lasted from a remote period; characterized by great age or long duration.
Simple“The village is famous for its ancient oak trees that have stood for centuries.”
In context“The hikers discovered an ancient path through the mountains, its stones worn smooth by generations of travelers long before the modern road was built.”
- 02 C1 Advanced
n.people who lived thousands of years ago.
n.people who lived in the remote past, particularly during the classical civilizations of Greece or Rome.
Simple“The ancients believed that the stars could predict the future of kings.”
In context“While the ancients lacked modern telescopes, their mathematical calculations of planetary movements remain remarkably accurate even by today's standards.”
SynonymspredecessorsforebearsAntonyms - 03 C2 Proficiency
n.an old word for a flag or the person who carries it.
n.a flag, banner, or standard; also refers to the rank of the officer who carries it.
Simple“The soldier held the ancient high so the rest of the army could see it.”
In context“In the historical play, the character of Iago holds the rank of ancient, serving as the standard-bearer for the Moorish general.”
Usage ancient human · ancient history
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.
Corruption of ensign.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.