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53 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 : [ gcide ]


  Ancient \An"cient\, n. [Corrupted from ensign.]
     1. An ensign or flag. [Obs.]
        [1913 Webster]
  
              More dishonorable ragged than an old-faced ancient.
                                                    --Shak.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. The bearer of a flag; an ensign. [Obs.]
        [1913 Webster]
  
              This is Othello's ancient, as I take it. --Shak.
        [1913 Webster]

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 : [ gcide ]


  Ancient \An"cient\, a. [OE. auncien, F. ancien, LL. antianus,
     fr. L. ante before. See Ante-, pref.]
     1. Old; that happened or existed in former times, usually at
        a great distance of time; belonging to times long past;
        specifically applied to the times before the fall of the
        Roman empire; -- opposed to modern; as, ancient authors,
        literature, history; ancient days.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              Witness those ancient empires of the earth.
                                                    --Milton.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              Gildas Albanius . . . much ancienter than his
              namesake surnamed the Wise.           --Fuller.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. Old; that has been of long duration; of long standing; of
        great age; as, an ancient forest; an ancient castle. ``Our
        ancient bickerings.'' --Shak.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              Remove not the ancient landmarks, which thy fathers
              have set.                             --Prov. xxii.
                                                    28.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              An ancient man, strangely habited, asked for
              quarters.                             --Scott.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     3. Known for a long time, or from early times; -- opposed to
        recent or new; as, the ancient continent.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              A friend, perhaps, or an ancient acquaintance.
                                                    --Barrow.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     4. Dignified, like an aged man; magisterial; venerable.
        [Archaic]
        [1913 Webster]
  
              He wrought but some few hours of the day, and then
              would he seem very grave and ancient. --Holland.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     5. Experienced; versed. [Obs.]
        [1913 Webster]
  
              Though [he] was the youngest brother, yet he was the
              most ancient in the business of the realm.
                                                    --Berners.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     6. Former; sometime. [Obs.]
        [1913 Webster]
  
              They mourned their ancient leader lost. --Pope.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     Ancient demesne (Eng. Law), a tenure by which all manors
        belonging to the crown, in the reign of William the
        Conqueror, were held. The numbers, names, etc., of these
        were all entered in a book called Domesday Book.
  
     Ancient lights (Law), windows and other openings which have
        been enjoined without molestation for more than twenty
        years. In England, and in some of the United States, they
        acquire a prescriptive right.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     Syn: Old; primitive; pristine; antique; antiquated;
          old-fashioned; obsolete.
  
     Usage: Ancient, Antiquated, Obsolete, Antique,
            Antic, Old. -- Ancient is opposed to modern, and
            has antiquity; as, an ancient family, ancient
            landmarks, ancient institutions, systems of thought,
            etc. Antiquated describes that which has gone out of
            use or fashion; as, antiquated furniture, antiquated
            laws, rules, etc. Obsolete is commonly used, instead
            of antiquated, in reference to language, customs,
            etc.; as, an obsolete word or phrase, an obsolete
            expression. Antique is applied, in present usage,
            either to that which has come down from the ancients;
            as, an antique cameo, bust, etc.; or to that which is
            made to imitate some ancient work of art; as, an
            antique temple. In the days of Shakespeare, antique
            was often used for ancient; as, ``an antique song,''
            ``an antique Roman;'' and hence, from singularity
            often attached to what is ancient, it was used in the
            sense of grotesque; as, ``an oak whose antique root
            peeps out; '' and hence came our present word antic,
            denoting grotesque or ridiculous. We usually apply
            both ancient and old to things subject to gradual
            decay. We say, an old man, an ancient record; but
            never, the old stars, an old river or mountain. In
            general, however, ancient is opposed to modern, and
            old to new, fresh, or recent. When we speak of a thing
            that existed formerly, which has ceased to exist, we
            commonly use ancient; as, ancient republics, ancient
            heroes; and not old republics, old heroes. But when
            the thing which began or existed in former times is
            still in existence, we use either ancient or old; as,
            ancient statues or paintings, or old statues or
            paintings; ancient authors, or old authors, meaning
            books.
            [1913 Webster]

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 : [ gcide ]


  Ancient \An"cient\, n.
     1. pl. Those who lived in former ages, as opposed to the
        moderns.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. An aged man; a patriarch. Hence: A governor; a ruler; a
        person of influence.
        [1913 Webster]
  
              The Lord will enter into judgment with the ancients
              of his people, and the princes thereof. --Isa. iii.
                                                    14.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     3. A senior; an elder; a predecessor. [Obs.]
        [1913 Webster]
  
              Junius and Andronicus . . . in Christianity . . .
              were his ancients.                    --Hooker.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     4. pl. (Eng. Law) One of the senior members of the Inns of
        Court or of Chancery.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     Council of Ancients (French Hist.), one of the two
        assemblies composing the legislative bodies in 1795.
        --Brande.
        [1913 Webster]

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) : [ web1913 ]


  Ancient \An"cient\, a. [OE. auncien, F. ancien, LL. antianus,
     fr. L. ante before. See Ante-, pref.]
     1. Old; that happened or existed in former times, usually at
        a great distance of time; belonging to times long past;
        specifically applied to the times before the fall of the
        Roman empire; -- opposed to modern; as, ancient authors,
        literature, history; ancient days.
  
              Witness those ancient empires of the earth.
                                                    --Milton.
  
              Gildas Albanius . . . much ancienter than his
              namesake surnamed the Wise.           --Fuller.
  
     2. Old; that has been of long duration; of long standing; of
        great age; as, an ancient forest; an ancient castle. ``Our
        ancient bickerings.'' --Shak.
  
              Remove not the ancient landmarks, which thy fathers
              have set.                             --Prov. xxii.
                                                    28.
  
              An ancient man, strangely habited, asked for
              quarters.                             --Scott.
  
     3. Known for a long time, or from early times; -- opposed to
        recent or new; as, the ancient continent.
  
              A friend, perhaps, or an ancient acquaintance.
                                                    --Barrow.
  
     4. Dignified, like an aged man; magisterial; venerable.
        [Archaic]
  
              He wrought but some few hours of the day, and then
              would he seem very grave and ancient. --Holland.
  
     5. Experienced; versed. [Obs.]
  
              Though [he] was the youngest brother, yet he was the
              most ancient in the business of the realm.
                                                    --Berners.
  
     6. Former; sometime. [Obs.]
  
              They mourned their ancient leader lost. --Pope.
  
     Ancient demesne (Eng. Law), a tenure by which all manors
        belonging to the crown, in the reign of William the
        Conqueror, were held. The numbers, names, etc., of these
        were all entered in a book called Domesday Book.
  
     Ancient lights (Law), windows and other openings which have
        been enjoined without molestation for more than twenty
        years. In England, and in some of the United States, they
        acquire a prescriptive right.
  
     Syn: Old; primitive; pristine; antique; antiquated;
          old-fashioned; obsolete.
  
     Usage: Ancient, Antiquated, Obsolete, Antique,
            Antic, Old. -- Ancient is opposed to modern, and
            has antiquity; as, an ancient family, ancient
            landmarks, ancient institutions, systems of thought,
            etc. Antiquated describes that which has gone out of
            use or fashion; as, antiquated furniture, antiquated
            laws, rules, etc. Obsolete is commonly used, instead
            of antiquated, in reference to language, customs,
            etc.; as, an obsolete word or phrase, an obsolete
            expression. Antique is applied, in present usage,
            either to that which has come down from the ancients;
            as, an antique cameo, bust, etc.; or to that which is
            made to imitate some ancient work of art; as, an
            antique temple. In the days of Shakespeare, antique
            was often used for ancient; as, ``an antique song,''
            ``an antique Roman;'' and hence, from singularity
            often attached to what is ancient, it was used in the
            sense of grotesque; as, ``an oak whose antique root
            peeps out; '' and hence came our present word antic,
            denoting grotesque or ridiculous. We usually apply
            both ancient and old to things subject to gradual
            decay. We say, an old man, an ancient record; but
            never, the old stars, an old river or mountain. In
            general, however, ancient is opposed to modern, and
            old to new, fresh, or recent. When we speak of a thing
            that existed formerly, which has ceased to exist, we
            commonly use ancient; as, ancient republics, ancient
            heroes; and not old republics, old heroes. But when
            the thing which began or existed in former times is
            still in existence, we use either ancient or old; as,
            ancient statues or paintings, or old statues or
            paintings; ancient authors, or old authors, meaning
            books.

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) : [ web1913 ]


  Ancient \An"cient\, n.
     1. pl. Those who lived in former ages, as opposed to the
        moderns.
  
     2. An aged man; a patriarch. Hence: A governor; a ruler; a
        person of influence.
  
              The Lord will enter into judgment with the ancients
              of his people, and the princes thereof. --Isa. iii.
                                                    14.
  
     3. A senior; an elder; a predecessor. [Obs.]
  
              Junius and Andronicus . . . in Christianity . . .
              were his ancients.                    --Hooker.
  
     4. pl. (Eng. Law) One of the senior members of the Inns of
        Court or of Chancery.
  
     Council of Ancients (French Hist.), one of the two
        assemblies composing the legislative bodies in 1795.
        --Brande.

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) : [ web1913 ]


  Ancient \An"cient\, n. [Corrupted from ensign.]
     1. An ensign or flag. [Obs.]
  
              More dishonorable ragged than an old-faced ancient.
                                                    --Shak.
  
     2. The bearer of a flag; an ensign. [Obs.]
  
              This is Othello's ancient, as I take it. --Shak.

From WordNet (r) 2.0 : [ wn ]


  ancient
       adj 1: belonging to times long past especially of the historical
              period before the fall of the Western Roman Empire;
              "ancient history"; "ancient civilizations such as
              those of the Etruscans and Sumerians"; "ancient
              Greece"
       2: very old; "an ancient mariner"

From Greek Wiktionary: All languages (2023-07-27) : [ dictinfo.com:wikt-el-ALL-2023-07-27 ]


  ancient
     Αγγλικά a.
     αρχαίος

From English Wiktionary: All languages (2023-07-27) : [ dictinfo.com:wikt-en-ALL-2023-07-27 ]


  ancient
     a.
     1 Having last#Verb from a remote#Adjective period; having been of
  long duration; of great#Adjective age#Noun, very old.
     2 existent or occur in time#Noun long past, usually in remote ages;
  belonging to or associated with antiquity; old, as opposed to modern.
     alt.
     1 Having last#Verb from a remote#Adjective period; having been of
  long duration; of great#Adjective age#Noun, very old.
     2 existent or occur in time#Noun long past, usually in remote ages;
  belonging to or associated with antiquity; old, as opposed to modern.
     n.
     1 A person who is very old.
     2 A person who lived in ancient times.
     3 (lb en UK legal) One of the senior members of the Inns of Court or
  of Chancery.
     4 (lb en obsolete) A senior; an elder; a predecessor.
     n.
     (lb en heraldry archaic) A flag, banner, standard or ensign.

From English Wiktionary: English language only (2023-07-27) : [ dictinfo.com:wikt-en-en-2023-07-27 ]


  ancient
     a.
     1 Having last#Verb from a remote#Adjective period; having been of
  long duration; of great#Adjective age#Noun, very old.
     2 existent or occur in time#Noun long past, usually in remote ages;
  belonging to or associated with antiquity; old, as opposed to modern.
     alt.
     1 Having last#Verb from a remote#Adjective period; having been of
  long duration; of great#Adjective age#Noun, very old.
     2 existent or occur in time#Noun long past, usually in remote ages;
  belonging to or associated with antiquity; old, as opposed to modern.
     n.
     1 A person who is very old.
     2 A person who lived in ancient times.
     3 (lb en UK legal) One of the senior members of the Inns of Court or
  of Chancery.
     4 (lb en obsolete) A senior; an elder; a predecessor.
     n.
     (lb en heraldry archaic) A flag, banner, standard or ensign.

From English Wiktionary: Western, Greek, and Slavonic languages only (2023-07-27) : [ dictinfo.com:wikt-en-Western_Greek_Slavonic-2023-07-27 ]


  ancient
     a.
     1 Having last#Verb from a remote#Adjective period; having been of
  long duration; of great#Adjective age#Noun, very old.
     2 existent or occur in time#Noun long past, usually in remote ages;
  belonging to or associated with antiquity; old, as opposed to modern.
     alt.
     1 Having last#Verb from a remote#Adjective period; having been of
  long duration; of great#Adjective age#Noun, very old.
     2 existent or occur in time#Noun long past, usually in remote ages;
  belonging to or associated with antiquity; old, as opposed to modern.
     n.
     1 A person who is very old.
     2 A person who lived in ancient times.
     3 (lb en UK legal) One of the senior members of the Inns of Court or
  of Chancery.
     4 (lb en obsolete) A senior; an elder; a predecessor.
     n.
     (lb en heraldry archaic) A flag, banner, standard or ensign.

From English Wiktionary: Western languages only (2023-07-27) : [ dictinfo.com:wikt-en-Western-2023-07-27 ]


  ancient
     a.
     1 Having last#Verb from a remote#Adjective period; having been of
  long duration; of great#Adjective age#Noun, very old.
     2 existent or occur in time#Noun long past, usually in remote ages;
  belonging to or associated with antiquity; old, as opposed to modern.
     alt.
     1 Having last#Verb from a remote#Adjective period; having been of
  long duration; of great#Adjective age#Noun, very old.
     2 existent or occur in time#Noun long past, usually in remote ages;
  belonging to or associated with antiquity; old, as opposed to modern.
     n.
     1 A person who is very old.
     2 A person who lived in ancient times.
     3 (lb en UK legal) One of the senior members of the Inns of Court or
  of Chancery.
     4 (lb en obsolete) A senior; an elder; a predecessor.
     n.
     (lb en heraldry archaic) A flag, banner, standard or ensign.

From Finnish Wiktionary: All languages (2023-07-27) : [ dictinfo.com:wikt-fi-ALL-2023-07-27 ]


  ancient
     Englanti a.
     muinainen, ikivanha

From Swedish Wiktionary: All languages (2023-07-27) : [ dictinfo.com:wikt-sv-ALL-2023-07-27 ]


  ancient
     Engelska a.
     antik

From English-Afrikaans FreeDict Dictionary ver. 0.1.3 : [ freedict:eng-afr ]


  ancient /ˈeɪnʃənt/
  antiek

From English-Arabic FreeDict Dictionary ver. 0.6.3 : [ freedict:eng-ara ]


  Ancient /ˈeɪnʃənt/
  قديم

From English-български език FreeDict+WikDict dictionary ver. 2023.05.29 : [ freedict:eng-bul ]


  ancient //ˈeɪn.ʃənt// 
  1. старинен
  existent or occurring in time long past
  2. анти́чен, дре́вен, стар
  having lasted from a remote period
  3. античен
  history: relating to antiquity