ancient applies to occurrence, existence, or use in or survival from the distant past.

ANCIENT definition: 1. of or from a long time ago, having lasted for a very long time: 2. very old: 3. used to refer…. Learn more.

Ancient history is a time period from the beginning of writing and recorded human history through late antiquity. The span of recorded history is roughly 5,000 years, beginning with the development of Sumerian cuneiform script.

Define ancient. ancient synonyms, ancient pronunciation, ancient translation, English dictionary definition of ancient. adj. 1. Of, relating to, or belonging to times long past, especially before the fall of the Western Roman Empire : ancient cultures.

Ancient means belonging to the distant past, especially to the period in history before the end of the Roman Empire. They believed ancient Greece and Rome were vital sources of learning.

ancient (comparative ancienter or more ancient, superlative ancientest or most ancient) Having lasted from a remote period; having been of long duration; of great age, very old.

There are 21 meanings listed in OED's entry for the word ancient, one of which is labelled obsolete. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.

ancient, adj. & n.¹ meanings, etymology and more | Oxford English ...

Definition of ancient adjective from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. belonging to a period of history that is thousands of years in the past. Archaeologists are excavating the ruined temples of this ancient civilization. Questions about grammar and vocabulary?