1. прилагательное 1) древний; старинный, старый Например: He presently returned with a very ancient bottle. — Вскоре он вернулся со старинной бутылкой в руках. Синоним(ы): antique, hoary, immemorial, old, longstanding Антоним(ы): fresh, modern, new, novel, recent, up-to-date 2) античный Например: remains of ancient art at Athens — остатки античного искусства в Афинах 3) престарелый; умудрённый (годами) 4) вышедший из моды 2. имя существительное 1) старейшина, старец Синоним(ы): elder 2) (the ancients) древние народы Например: To the Ancients the Nile appeared almost miraculous. — Людям, жившим в древности, Нил казался почти чудом. 3) (the ancients) античные писатели Например: We very often return to the writings of the ancients. — Мы очень часто обращаемся к произведениям античных авторов.
I. adjective Etymology: Middle English ancien, from Anglo-French, from Vulgar Latin *anteanus, from Latin ante before — more at ante- 1. having had an existence of many years 2. of or relating to a remote period, to a time early in history, or to those living in such a period or time; especially of or relating to the historical period beginning with the earliest known civilizations and extending to the fall of the western Roman Empire in A.D. 476 3. having the qualities of age or long existence: as a. venerable b. old-fashioned, antique Synonyms: see old • ancientness noun II. noun 1. an aged living being Example: a penniless ancient 2. a person who lived in ancient times: a. plural the civilized people of antiquity; especially those of the classical nations b. one of the classical authors Example: Plutarch and other ancients 3. an ancient coin III. noun Etymology: alteration of ensign 1. archaic ensign, standard, flag 2. obsolete the bearer of an ensign