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| Date: | 1300-1400 |
| Language: | Old French |
| Origin: | ancien, from Vulgar Latin anteanus, from Latin ante 'before' |
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an‧cient1 W2
1 belonging to a time long ago in history, especially thousands of years ago [≠ modern]: 
the ancient civilizations of Asia
the ancient civilizations of Asia2 having existed for a very long time [≠ new]: an ancient walled city an ancient forest the ancient art of calligraphy
an ancient walled cityan ancient forestthe ancient art of calligraphy3 very old - used humorously : That photo makes me look ancient!
That photo makes me look ancient!4
ancient history
a) the history of ancient societies, such as Greece or Rome : a professor of ancient history
a professor of ancient historyb) informal if you say that something is ancient history, you mean that it happened a long time ago and is not important now : It's all ancient history and I'm not upset any more.
It's all ancient history and I'm not upset any more.WORD FOCUS: old WORD FOCUS: old
PEOPLE: elderly a polite word used to describe someone who is old
middle-aged aged between about 50 and 60 years old
senior citizen/senior American English/pensioner British English/retiree American English someone over 60 who has stopped working
senile old and mentally ill
ancient, geriatric, be getting on, be past it, be over the hill, be no spring chicken informal words and expressionsused to describe someone who is old, often used humorously
geriatric geriatric medicine, care, hospitals etc are for old people
THINGS/PLACES: ancient ancient civilizations, cities, buildings, traditions etc existed many hundreds of years ago
prehistoric existing many thousands of years ago
antique antique furniture, jewellery etc is old and often valuable
➔ See also old
WORD FOCUS: old PEOPLE: elderly a polite word used to describe someone who is old
middle-aged aged between about 50 and 60 years old
senior citizen/senior American English/pensioner British English/retiree American English someone over 60 who has stopped working
senile old and mentally ill
ancient, geriatric, be getting on, be past it, be over the hill, be no spring chicken informal words and expressionsused to describe someone who is old, often used humorously
geriatric geriatric medicine, care, hospitals etc are for old people
THINGS/PLACES: ancient ancient civilizations, cities, buildings, traditions etc existed many hundreds of years ago
prehistoric existing many thousands of years ago
antique antique furniture, jewellery etc is old and often valuable
➔ See also old
