ancient (comparative ancienter or more ancient, superlative ancientest or most ancient) Having lasted from a remote period; having been of long duration; of great age, very old. old, ancient, venerable, antique, antiquated, archaic, obsolete mean having come into existence or use in the more or less distant past. old may apply to either actual or merely relative length of existence.

Understanding the Context

ancient applies to occurrence, existence, or use in or survival from the distant past. ANCIENT definition: 1. of or from a long time ago, having lasted for a very long time: 2. very old: 3.

Key Insights

used to refer…. Learn more. Ancient history is a time period from the beginning of writing and recorded human history through late antiquity. The span of recorded history is roughly 5,000 years, beginning with the development of Sumerian cuneiform script. Archaeology isn’t just about dusty ruins and ancient pottery—it’s full of bizarre discoveries that challenge what we think we know about the past.

Final Thoughts

From mysterious artifacts to unusual burial practices Who was the first king of ancient Rome? According to tradition, Romulus was Rome’s first king. His legendary reign was filled with deeds expected of an ancient city founder and the son of a war god. Ancient implies existence or first occurrence in a distant past: an ancient custom. Antiquated connotes something too old or no longer useful: an antiquated building. Ancient means belonging to the distant past, especially to the period in history before the end of the Roman Empire.

They believed ancient Greece and Rome were vital sources of learning. Dive into the meaning of "ancient" with this comprehensive glossary entry. Discover its etymology from Old French and Latin roots, varied definitions as an adjective and noun, real-world examples in books, media, and discourse, plus synonyms and idioms.