ANCIENT

I. adjective see: ante- Date: 14th century having had an existence of many years, of or relating to a remote period, to a time early in history, or to those living in such a period or time, having the qualities of age or long existence: as, venerable , old-fashioned , antique , see: old ~ness noun II. noun Date: 1502 an aged living being , a person who lived in ~ times:, the civilized people of antiquity, one of the classical authors , an ~ coin, III. noun Etymology: alteration of ensign Date: 1554 ensign , standard , flag , the bearer of an ensign