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ancient

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ancient

Main Entry:: ¹an·cient
Pronunciation:: \ˈān(t)-shənt, ˈāŋ(k)-shənt\
Function:: adjective
Etymology:: Middle English ancien, from Anglo-French, from Vulgar Latin *anteanus, from Latin ante before — more at ante-
Date:: 14th century

1: having had an existence of many years2: of or relating to a remote period, to a time early in history, or to those living in such a period or time; especially : of or relating to the historical period beginning with the earliest known civilizations and extending to the fall of the western Roman Empire in a.d. 4763: having the qualities of age or long existence: as a: venerable b: old-fashioned, antique

synonyms see old

— an·cient·ness noun

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