adj. & n.
adj. 1 of long ago. 2 having lived or existed long.
n. archaic an old man. ancient history 1 the history of the ancient civilizations of the Mediterranean area and the Near East before the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476. 2 something already long familiar. ancient lights a window that a neighbour may not deprive of light by building. ancient monument Brit. an old building etc. preserved usu. under Government control. the ancients the people of ancient times, esp. the Greeks and Romans. ancientness n.
[ ME f. AF auncien f. OF ancien, ult. f. L ante before ]