Etymology

ancient

A1N1C3I1E1N1T1

Today it means: Having lasted from a remote period; having been of long duration; of great age, very old. Full definition →

Middle English auncyen ← Old French ancien ← Vulgar Latin *anteānus
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ancient · adjective, noun1

  1. Latin · derived fromante“before”
  2. Vulgar Latin · derived from*anteānus
  3. Old French · derived fromancien
  4. Middle English · inherited fromauncyen
  5. English todayancient

From Middle English auncyen, from Old French ancien, from Vulgar Latin *anteānus, composed of Latin ante (“before”) + -ānus (adjective-forming suffix). The non-etymological excrescent /t/ is by analogy with the common ending -ent.

ancient · noun2

Corruption of ensign.

Words from the same roots

Latinante all →

anteantenatalante litteramante meridiemantependiumfissula ante fenestram

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.