an·cient¹

(ān′shənt)

adj.

1. Of, relating to, or belonging to times long past, especially before the fall of the Western Roman Empire (ad 476): ancient cultures. See Synonyms at old.

2. Of great age; very old: "The males live up to six months—positively ancient, for a bee" (Elizabeth Royte).

3. Archaic Having the qualities associated with age, wisdom, or long use; venerable: "You seem a sober, ancient Gentleman by your habit" (Shakespeare).

1. A very old person.

2. A person who lived in times long past.

3. ancients

a. The peoples of the classical nations of antiquity.

b. The ancient Greek and Roman authors.

[Middle English auncien, from Old French, from Vulgar Latin *anteānus : Latin ante, before; see ant- in Indo-European roots + -ānus, adj. and n. suff.]

an′cient·ly adv.

an′cient·ness n.

an·cient²

(ān′shənt)

1. Archaic An ensign; a flag.

2. Obsolete A flag-bearer or lieutenant.

[Alteration of ensign.]

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Noun

ancientness - extreme oldness

antiquity

oldness - the quality of being old; the opposite of newness

Translations

vetustà

Mentioned in

References in classic literature

And Jerry, far-journeyer across life and across the history of all life that goes to make the world, strugglingly mastering the abysmal slime of the prehistoric with the love that had come into existence and had become warp and woof of him in far later time, his wrath of ancientness still faintly reverberating in his throat like the rumblings of a passing thunder-storm, knew, in the wide warm ways of feeling, the augustness and righteousness of Skipper.

View in context

But for now, the mud under our feet was slick and smooth, the air steamy and smelling of ancientness. The trees above did their nervous shimmer.

HOT SPRINGS ETERNAL: SOAK UTAH'S CALMING WATERS ON A DESERT ROAD TRIP

He concluded the seminar by saying that Gurukul Education comprises the goodness of modernity and ancientness, so this system will be effective in establishing such a society in the future, where the love for every creature, nature and the source of both, the Supreme God will be of paramount importance and thereby solving other problems will be easy.

Gauranga Institute Organized a Six-Day Seminar on "Truly Education"

Rough and irregular, the objects have an aura of earthy, excavated ancientness despite their unmistakably synthetic character.

Allyson Vieira: Klaus von Nichtssagend/Company Gallery

Here, I could feel the ancientness of the earth beneath my feet, I could see the stories of the past in the ruins of the once great cities, and as I closed my eyes, I could almost hear the salat of the faithful who had stood here before me being carried in the wind.

Visit the Historic Qiblatayn Mosque in Ibra

Al Yahya praising his cultural programme that takes pride in the Arab history and contributes to enlightening the public opinion about the originality and ancientness of this history.

Royal Court minister receives Saudi media researcher

Ever enchanted by the river and valley, I have sat often on her banks and marveled at the reverence I feel, a sense of ancientness which transcends mere logic.

Editors comment

ancientness

an·cient 1

an·cient 2

an·cient¹

an·cient²