ANCIENT

[adjective] - of or from a long time ago, having lasted for a very long time, or (informal) very oldancient civilizations/rights/laws/rivalriesancient monuments/ruins/woodlandsI've just finished reading a book on the ancient kingdoms of Mexico.People have lived in this valley since ancient times.History, ancient and modern, has taught these people an intense distrust of their neighbours.Ancient is sometimes used to refer to the period in European history from the earliest known societies to the end of the Roman empire.the ancient Eyptians/Greeks/RomansThe ancient Britons inhabited these parts of England before the Roman invasion.The museum has a large collection of sculptures dating from the ancient world. (figurative informal) "Did you know Andy has a new job?" "Yeah, that's ancient history (= that is so well known that it is not interesting)."(informal) You'd never think he was a wealthy man - he drives around in a really ancient car.