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Added 30 September 2026

ancient

/ˈeɪn.ʃənt/ adjective

In Latin: prīscus, antīquus Wiktionary

adjective Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about ancient at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

Having lasted from a remote period; having been of long duration; of great age, very old.
an ancient city
Existent or occurring in time long past, usually in remote ages; belonging to or associated with antiquity; old, as opposed to modern.
an ancient author
Relating to antiquity as a primarily European historical period; the time before the Middle Ages.

noun

A person who is very old.
A person who lived in ancient times.
One of the senior members of the Inns of Court or of Chancery.

noun

A flag, banner, standard or ensign.
The bearer of a flag; ensign.

Origin

From Middle English auncyen, from Old French ancien, from Vulgar Latin *anteānus, composed of Latin ante (“before”) + -ānus (adjective-forming suffix). The non-etymological excrescent /t/ is by analogy with the common ending -ent.

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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