Transcription
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- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- UK Pronunciation
- UK IPA
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- [eyn-shuh nt]
- /ˈeɪn ʃənt/
- /ˈeɪnʃənt/
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- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
-
- [eyn-shuh nt]
- /ˈeɪn ʃənt/
Definitions of ancient word
- adjective ancient Ancient means very old, or having existed for a long time. 4
- adjective ancient Ancient means belonging to the distant past, especially to the period in history before the end of the Roman Empire. 3
- noun plural ancient The ancients are the people of an old civilization, especially classical Greece or Rome. 3
- adjective ancient dating from very long ago 3
- adjective ancient very old; aged 3
- adjective ancient of the far past, esp before the collapse of the Western Roman Empire (476 ad) 3
Information block about the term
Origin of ancient
First appearance:
before 1300 One of the 15% oldest English words
1300-50; Middle English auncien < Anglo-French; Old French ancien < Vulgar Latin *antiānus, equivalent to Latin ante(ā) before (see ante-) + -ānus -an; late Middle English forms with -t- developed by confusion with the present participle ending -nt (see -ent)
Historical Comparancy
Parts of speech for Ancient
noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
ancient popularity
A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 97% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
Most Europeans know this English word. The frequency of it’s usage is somewhere between "mom" and "screwdriver".
ancient usage trend in Literature
This diagram is provided by Google Ngram ViewerSynonyms for ancient
adj ancient
- antique — An antique is an old object such as a piece of china or furniture which is valuable because of its beauty or rarity.
- age-old — An age-old story, tradition, or problem has existed for many generations or centuries.
- venerable — commanding respect because of great age or impressive dignity; worthy of veneration or reverence, as because of high office or noble character: a venerable member of Congress.
- hoary — gray or white with age: an old dog with a hoary muzzle.
- old-fashioned — of a style or kind that is no longer in vogue: an old-fashioned bathing suit.
noun ancient
- firstborn — first in the order of birth; eldest.
- indigene — a person or thing that is indigenous or native; native; autochthon.
- oldster — an old or elderly person.
- senior — older or elder (designating the older of two men bearing the same name, as a father whose son is named after him, often written as Sr. or sr. following the name): I'd like to speak with the senior Mr. Hansen, please. I'm privileged to introduce Mr. Edward Andrew Hansen, Sr. Compare junior (def 1).
- golden ager — an elderly person, especially one who has retired.
adjective ancient
- earliest — in or during the first part of a period of time, a course of action, a series of events, etc.: early in the year.
- olden — of or relating to the distant past or bygone times; ancient.
- prehistoric — of or relating to the time or a period prior to recorded history: The dinosaur is a prehistoric beast.
- primaeval — of or relating to the first age or ages, especially of the world: primeval forms of life.
- ageless — If you describe someone as ageless, you mean that they never seem to look any older.
Antonyms for ancient
adj ancient
- modern — of or relating to present and recent time; not ancient or remote: modern city life.
- current — A current is a steady and continuous flowing movement of some of the water in a river, lake, or sea.
- young — being in the first or early stage of life or growth; youthful; not old: a young woman.
- new — other than the former or the old: a new era; in the New World.
- fresh — newly made or obtained: fresh footprints.
adjective ancient
- up-to-date — (of persons, buildings, etc.) keeping up with the times, as in outlook, information, ideas, appearance, or style.
Top questions with ancient
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See also
Matching words
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