Ancient: meaning, definitions and examples

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ancient

 

[ หˆeษชnสƒษ™nt ]

Adjective / Noun
Oxford 3000 Adjectives
Context #1 | Adjective

history

belonging to the very distant past and no longer in existence. Very old or aged.

Synonyms

antique, historic, old, prehistoric

Examples of usage

  • The ancient ruins of Rome attract millions of tourists every year.
  • The ancient civilization of Egypt left behind many mysteries.
  • The ancient manuscripts were carefully preserved in the library.
  • The ancient traditions of the tribe were passed down through generations.
  • The ancient artifacts unearthed by archaeologists shed light on the past.
Context #2 | Noun

time period

a person who lived in ancient times.

Synonyms

ancestor, antiquity, elder

Examples of usage

  • The ancients believed in mythical gods and goddesses.
  • The ancients had a very different way of life compared to modern society.

Translations

Translations of the word "ancient" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น antigo

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เคชเฅเคฐเคพเคšเฅ€เคจ

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช alt

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ kuno

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ะดะฐะฒะฝั–ะน

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ staroลผytny

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ๅคไปฃใฎ (kodai no)

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท ancien

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ antiguo

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท antik

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ๊ณ ๋Œ€์˜ (godae-ui)

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ู‚ุฏูŠู…

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ starovฤ›kรฝ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ starovekรฝ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ๅคไปฃ็š„ (gว”dร i de)

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ starodaven

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ forn

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ะตะถะตะปะณั–

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒฃแƒซแƒ•แƒ”แƒšแƒ”แƒกแƒ˜

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ qษ™dim

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ antiguo

Etymology

The word 'ancient' originated from the Latin word 'antiquus', meaning 'former' or 'aged'. It has been used in English since the 14th century to describe things or people from a distant past. The concept of ancient civilizations has fascinated historians, archaeologists, and scholars for centuries, leading to discoveries of lost cities, artifacts, and traditions. The term 'ancient' evokes a sense of mystery, wisdom, and timelessness, reflecting the enduring appeal of exploring the past.

See also: ancientness.

Word Frequency Rank

Positioned at #1,394, this word is part of core intermediate vocabulary. It appears regularly in various contexts and is essential for natural-sounding English.