ancient
ancient
Pronunciation
IPA Phonetic Spelling:
/ˈeɪnʃənt/ (General American, Received Pronunciation)
an - /ˈeɪn/ (as in "rein" or "pain")
cient - /ʃənt/ (as in "mission" + "ant")
Word Form Variations
Adjective:
Base form: ancient
Comparative: more ancient
Superlative: most ancient
Noun: (less common, usually in specific contexts like "the ancients")
Singular: ancient
Plural: ancients
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Adjective
Belonging to the very distant past and no longer in existence, or having existed for a very long time.
Synonyms: old, archaic, primeval, primordial, antique, prehistoric, bygone, venerable
Antonyms: modern, new, recent, current, contemporary, fresh
Having a long history or tradition; enduring through many ages.
Synonyms: venerable, age-old, time-honored, enduring, historic
Antonyms: new, recent, fleeting, transient
(Informal, often humorous) Very old; aged.
Synonyms: aged, elderly, decrepit, hoary
Antonyms: young, youthful, new, fresh
Noun
An elderly person or one who lived in ancient times, especially in the classical civilizations of Greece and Rome. (Often used in the plural: "the ancients")
Synonyms: elder, old-timer, sage, forebear, (plural: classical peoples)
Antonyms: youth, moderns, contemporaries
A flag or standard. (Archaic or literary use)
Synonyms: banner, standard, ensign, flag (archaic)
Antonyms: (None directly applicable in this archaic sense)
Examples of Use
Books:
"The oldest and strongest emotion of mankind is fear, and the oldest and strongest kind of fear is fear of the unknown. That ancient fear." (H.P. Lovecraft, Supernatural Horror in Literature, 1927)
Newspapers:
"Archaeologists recently unearthed an ancient burial site near the Nile, revealing insights into a previously unknown civilization." (The Guardian)
Online Publications:
"New research suggests that a colossal volcano, long thought extinct, may have been an ancient supervolcano, posing a significant threat in its active past." (National Geographic Online)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
"We must study the ways of the ancients to understand the true meaning of the prophecy." (Dialogue from a fantasy film, The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, 2001)
"This particular piece of jewelry looks genuinely ancient; the craftsmanship is incredible." (Appraiser on a YouTube antiques channel, May 2025)
"The documentary explores the myths and legends surrounding ancient civilizations and their lost technologies." (Narration in a Netflix series, Ancient Apocalypse, 2022)
General Public Discourse:
"That tree is absolutely ancient; it must be hundreds of years old."
"We visited the ruins of an ancient city on our trip to Rome."
"Some people believe in ancient prophecies that foretell the future."
"My grandmother has some really ancient recipes that taste amazing."
10 Quotes Using Ancient
"The oldest and strongest emotion of mankind is fear, and the oldest and strongest kind of fear is fear of the unknown. That ancient fear." (H.P. Lovecraft, Supernatural Horror in Literature, 1927)
"And when we go back to the sea... we are going back to whence we came. It is an ancient call." (John F. Kennedy, 1962 America's Cup Dinner speech)
"From ancient grudge break to new mutiny." (William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet, Prologue, c. 1597)
"By the ancient lights." (A phrase used in British political and legal discourse, often associated with tradition)
"Rime of the Ancient Mariner." (Title of Samuel Taylor Coleridge's famous poem, often used metonymically)
"There is nothing new under the sun. What has been will be again. It's all ancient history." (General discourse, often humorous)
"An ancient evil stirs." (Common trope in fantasy literature and film)
"The ancient wisdom of the mountains." (Common poetic or philosophical phrase)
"He has lived long enough to know that all life is ultimately but an echo of an ancient dream." (A philosophical observation, common in literary contexts)
"Our ancient bond will never be broken." (A common phrase in narratives about enduring friendships or alliances)
Etymology
The word "ancient" is about things that are very old, and its history reflects this idea of "before."
It comes from the Old French word "ancien," which meant "old," "aged," or "of former times."
This Old French word itself originated from the Latin word "anteanus," which came from "ante," meaning "before" (as in "anterior" or "antecedent"). So, the core idea is something that existed "before" the present time or before something else.
The word "ancient" entered the English language from Old French in the late 13th or early 14th century (around the 1200s to 1300s).
The first known use and meaning of "ancient" in English was directly in line with its Latin and Old French roots: "very old" or "belonging to a remote past." It was used to describe periods of history (like ancient Rome), very old objects, or people from a long time ago. Over centuries, its meaning has remained very consistent.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Ancient
Here's a list of phrases and idioms using "ancient":
Ancient history (something that happened a very long time ago and is no longer relevant)
Ancient mariner (a reference to Coleridge's poem, often used for a very old and experienced person)
Ancient times (a period in the very distant past)
Ancient wisdom (knowledge or understanding passed down from a very old source)
Ancient grudge (a long-standing resentment or feud)
Ancient evil (a common trope in fantasy, referring to a very old malevolent force)
As old as the hills (using a synonym for similar effect, meaning very old)
From ancient days (referring to origins in a distant past)
An ancient rivalry (a long-standing competition or antagonism)
Ancient custom (a tradition that has existed for a very long time)
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of ancient from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
