English Meaning & Definitions
Belonging to the very distant past; no longer in existence or common use.
- “Archaeologists uncovered ancient ruins buried beneath the desert sand.”
- “The manuscript contained secrets from an ancient civilization.”
A person who lived in ancient times, or an old and venerable person.
- “The philosophers of ancient Greece laid the foundations of modern science.”
- “He treated his grandfather like an ancient, seeking his wisdom on every matter.”
English Synonyms & Near Equivalents
Comprehensive Thesaurus Breakdown
Compare formal, informal, literary synonyms and register nuances for “ancient”.
Derived from the Old French word 'ancien', which comes from Vulgar Latin '*anteānus' (meaning 'from before', derived from Latin 'ante' meaning 'before'). It entered the English language in the 14th century.
Think of a 'giant' who is so old he must be ancient.
Frequently Asked Questions About “ancient”
1. What is the meaning of “ancient” in English?
In English, ancient (adjective) is defined as: “Belonging to the very distant past; no longer in existence or common use.”.
2. How do you use “ancient” in a sentence?
“Archaeologists uncovered ancient ruins buried beneath the desert sand.”
3. What are English synonyms of “ancient”?
4. What is the etymology and word origin of “ancient”?
Derived from the Old French word 'ancien', which comes from Vulgar Latin '*anteānus' (meaning 'from before', derived from Latin 'ante' meaning 'before'). It entered the English language in the 14th century.
🇬🇧More English Words to English
View all English words →A measurement of time indicating an instantaneous occurrence or a state where no time has elapsed.
The base unit of time in the International System of Units (SI), equal to the duration of 9,192,631,770 periods of the radiation corresponding to the transition between the two hyperfine levels of the ground state of the caesium-133 atom.
A specific duration of time equal to one hour and forty-six minutes and twelve seconds.
The cardinal number equal to one thousand million (1,000,000,000), expressed in scientific notation as 10^9.