/ ˈeɪnʃənt; NAmE / adjective
1.
belonging to a period of history that is thousands of years in the past
OPP modern :
ancient history / civilization
ancient Greece
2.
very old; having existed for a very long time :
an ancient oak tree
ancient monuments
( humorous )
He's ancient—he must be at least fifty!
3.
the ancients noun [ pl. ] the people who lived in ancient times, especially the Egyptians, Greeks and Romans
► an·cient·ly adverb :
The area where the market was anciently held (= in ancient times) .
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WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English : from Old French ancien , based on Latin ante before.