Etymology

ancien régime

Today it means: A system of government that has been supplanted by another, particularly a state of feudalism with an absolute monarchy supported by the doctrine of divine right with the explicit consent of an established church. Full definition →

French ancien régime
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ancien régime · noun1

  1. French · borrowed fromancien régime“former rule, former order”
  2. English todayancien régime

From French ancien régime (“former rule, former order”); the term first appeared in English print in 1794.

Ancien Régime · proper noun2

  1. French · borrowed fromAncien Régime
  2. English todayAncien Régime

Borrowed from French Ancien Régime, from ancien (“former”) + régime (“rule, order”). The word first appeared in English in print in 1794.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.