Forms: 4 auncien, -ian, 4–5 -yen, 5 -yenne, -ienne, -iand, auntceaunt, 5–6 auncyent(e, awncient, -yent, 5–7 auncient, (6 aunchent), 6– antient, ancient. [a. Fr. ancien (= Pr. ancian, Sp. anciano, It. anziano):—late L. antiān-um for *anteān-um former, previous, f. ante before + -ān-us: see -AN. In 15th c. the genuine auncien -an was corrupted to aunciand, auncient, by form-assoc. with ppl. forms in -nd, -nt, which sometimes lost final -t or -d; in the reaction against this, the supposed correct ending was extended also to auncien, as to peasan(t), pheasan(t), tyran(t), etc. The great phonetic advance from auncient to ainshent is seen also in change, chamber, gauge. The spelling antient was due to form-assoc. with words like patient, mention, previously pacient, mencioun, aided perhaps by reminiscences of antiquus.]
A. adj.
I. Referring to date.
1. Of or belonging to time past, former, earlier, bygone. arch., exc. when approaching sense 2.
1490. Caxton, Eneydos, xi. 43. The delycyouse traces of myn auncyent loue.
1593. Shaks., Rich. II., II. i. 248. The Nobles hath he finde For ancient quarrels.
1678. Bunyan, Pilgr., I. (1862), 93. Thy antient kindness.
1702. Rowe, Amb. Step-Moth., I. i. 165. Tyes of ancient Love.
1792. T. Jefferson, Writ. (1859), III. 347. Congress would take it off your hands, in compliance with an ancient vote of that body. Ibid. (1793), (1859), IV. 54. Profound arguments … entitle him really to his ancient signature.
† b. Hence, with titles of office or position formerly occupied: Sometime, whilom, ex-. Cf. Fr. ancien gouverneur = ex-governor; and old in Old Etonian, old soldier. Obs.
1681. G. Vernon, Life of Heylin, 8. An Ancient colonel and excellent commander in the army of King Charles. Ibid., 26. He had been himself an ancient clerk in the old Convocations.
1692. Luttrell, Brief Rel. (1857), II. 344. An ancient alderman of London, who was mayor in 1655.
1718. Pope, Iliad, II. 863. They mourn’d their ancient leader lost.
2. esp. Which existed in, or belonged to, times long past, or early in the world’s history; old.
1366. Maundev., viii. 93. An Ymage of … old auncyen Werk.
1477. Earl Rivers, Dictes, 129. If thou can not atteyn to the wysedom of auncient men, at the lest studye ther bookis.
1551. Robinson, trans. More’s Utop., 165. The olde and auncient cosmographers.
1562. G. Leigh, Armorie (1597), Pref. A ij. Out of the holie Scriptures, as of other most antientest Authors.
1594. Hooker, Eccl. Pol., IV. (1617), 132. The reuerend simplicitie of ancienter times.
1632. in Shaks. Cent. Praise, 190. To raise our auncient Soveraynes from their herse.
1673. Ray, Journ. Low Countr., 6. In the most antient times … these places were Firm Land.
1777. W. Dalrymple, Trav. Sp. & Port., xl. Many antient weapons of war.
1836. Macgillivray, Humboldt’s Trav., xx. 296. Traces of ancient civilisation.
1860. Tyndall, Glac., I. § 23. 163. I … traced the action of ancient glaciers.
1877. Lytteil, Landmarks, I. v. 42. The grave of Ossian … and those of other Ancient worthies.
3. Specifically applied to the period of history before the fall of the Western Roman Empire. In this sense contrasted with modern, and mediæval.
1605. Bacon, Adv. Learn., I. iv. § 2 (1873), 28. The ancient authors … began to be read.
1704. Addison, Italy, Pref. Statuary and Architecture both Ancient and Modern.
1754. Edwards, Freed. Will, IV. § 6. 227. The antient Greek and Roman Philosophers.
1808. Z. Pike, Exp. Sources Mississippi, III. App. 69. Perfect master of the antient languages.
1846. Ellis, Elgin Marbles, I. 1. The remains of antient art at Athens.
1875. Scrivener, Lect. Text New Test., 3. The fading light of the decline of ancient literature.
b. Concerning or relating to ancient times.
1595. Robinson (title), A Record of Auncient Histories, intituled in Latine, Gesta Romanorum.
1740. Johnson, L. P., Barretier, Wks. 1787, IV. 463. Antient or modern geography.
c. 1850. (title) The Edinburgh Academy’s Ancient Geography.
II. Of length of existence. (Distinguished by Bacon from I.)
4. Of early origin or formation, going far back in history, of ancient date.
1475. Bk. Noblesse, 2. The noble auncient bloode of Troy.
1535. Coverdale, Baruch iv. 5. Thou people of God, o thou awncient Israel.
1561. Daus, trans. Bullinger on Apocal. The auncientest and noblest title, which the fathers … haue used.
1586. Cogan, Haven Health, ii. (1612), 20. The Harpe of all instruments is the most auncient.
1653. Holcroft, Procopius, IV. 124. To them ever the ancienter the things are, the truer they seem.
1667. E. Chamberlayne, St. Gt. Brit., I. III. i. (1743), 152. The meeting of Sufferings is one of the ancientest assemblies they have.
1751. Johnson, Rambl., No. 177 § 10. The seal of an antient corporation.
1845. Carlyle, Cromwell (1871), II. 191. One of the ancientest seats belonging to the Lord of Ormond.
1855. H. Reed, Lect. Eng. Hist., ii. 71. Contending for no new-born freedom, but for ancient rights.
5. Hence: Having existed long, and now, in consequence, possessing the attributes of lengthened existence; long-established; time-worn; hoary.
1586. Lupton, 1000 Notable Things (1675), 102. [It doth] help the ancient pain of the Head.
1605. Bacon, Adv. Learn., I. v. § 1. These times are the ancient times, when the world is ancient, and not those which we account ancient … by a computation backward from ourselves.
1607. Shaks., Cor., IV. v. 102. Thy Ancient Malice.
1719. Young, Busiris, I. i. (1757), 8. This antient city, Memphis the renown’d.
1744. Harris, Three Treat., III. II. (1765), 224. An ancient wood.
1769. Robertson, Charles V., III. VII. 29. To strengthen its antient attachment to France.
1849. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., I. 378. Before the ancient front of All Souls College.
b. Of old renown, long known to fame.
1819. Heber, Hymn, From Greenland’s … From many an ancient river, From many a palmy plain.
6. Of living beings: That has lived many years; aged, old; of great age. arch.
c. 1340. Gaw. & Gr. Knt., 1001. Þe olde auncian wyf heȝest ho sytteȝ.
1475. Caxton, Jason, 46. Mirmidone yet liueth … but he is moche auncient.
1592. Shaks., Rom. & Jul., II. iv. 150. Farewell, auncient Lady.
1598. Stow, Surv., xli. 431. Neyther the yong men of the City … nor the auncient persons.
1621. Burton, Anat. Mel., I. ii. IV. vii. (1651), 168. A young Gentlewoman … was married … to an ancient man against her will.
1682. Lond. Gaz., mdccl/4. An antient Man in the Habit of a Seaman.
1704. Luttrell, Brief Rel. (1857), V. 426. Sir Samuel Astry (being very antient) has resigned his place of clerk.
a. 1718. Penn, Life, Wks. 1726, I. 90. This A. M. C. aforesaid, is an Ancient Maid.
1795. Sewel, trans. Hist. Quakers, I. Pref. 10. Things, which some ancient people had yet remembrance of.
1849. Macaulay, Hist. Eng., I. 663. An ancient matron of the Anabaptist persuasion.
7. Having the experience and wisdom of age, venerable. arch.
c. 1460. Bk. Curtasye, in Babees Bk., 323. An naunciande squier, or ellis a knyȝt, Þo towelle down tase by fulle good ryȝt.
1564. Becon, Princ. Chr. Relig. (1844), 521. The duty of old women is … to be sober, sage, and ancient.
1596. Shaks., Tam. Shrew, V. i. 75. You seeme a sober, ancient Gentleman by your habit.
1685. Baxter, Paraphr. 1 Tim. v. 19. An accusation against a grave ancient Person.
1752. Johnson, Rambl., No. 190, ¶ 6. The precepts of ancient experience.
1875. Stubbs, Const. Hist., III. xviii. 238. Henry wished to be … counselled by the wise and ancient of the kingdom.
8. Savoring of age, old-fashioned, antique. rare.
1598. B. Jonson, Ev. Man in Hum., IV. iii. I am glad no one was hurt by his ancient humour.
1820. Keats, St. Agnes, xxxiii. He play’d an ancient ditty, long since mute.
9. That has been many years in some rank, position or capacity. (Now commonly replaced by old.)
1413. Lydg., Pylgr. Sowle, IV. xxxiii. (1483), 81. Auncyen trauayled men that ben experte in dedes of armes.
1598. Barret, The. Warres, V. iii. 180. Respect to be had to graue and ancient souldiers.
1628. Digby, Voy. Medit., 48. Seuerall of our ancientest seamen … were sea sicke.
1663. Killigrew, Parson’s Wedd., in Dodsl. (1780), XI. 377. A soldier ancienter than thyself.
a. 1715. Burnet, Own Time (1766), I. 247. The ancientest and most eminent of the former Bishops.
1807. T. Jefferson, Writ., IV. 68. My Dear and Antient Friend.
10. Comb., as ancient-customed, ancient-looking.
1681. Lond. Gaz., mdcxv/4. The antient Customed Inn, known by the name of the White Hart and Antelope.
1848. Dickens, Dombey (C. D. ed.), 24. He presently returned with a very ancient-looking bottle.
III. Law. (See quot.)
1607. Cowell, Interpr. (J.). Auncient … tenure, whereby all the maners belonging to the crowne, in the daies of Saint Edward the Saxon king, or of William the conquerour, did hold.
1768. Blackstone, Comm., II. 99. Antient demesne consists of those lands or manors, which, though now perhaps granted out to private subjects, were actually in the hands of the crown in the time of Edward the confessor, or William the conqueror.
B. sb.1
1. One who lived in ancient times. Commonly in pl. The Ancients: esp. the ancient Greeks, Romans and other civilized nations of antiquity. (Orig. adj. ‘the ancient,’ like ‘the learned.’)
1541. Copland, Galyen’s Terap., 2 F ij b. All the auncyentes apply the sayd suppuratyfe medycynes.
1597. Hooker, Eccl. Pol., V. lxi. § 1. The ancient it may be were too severe.
1611. Bible, Transl. Pref., 2. Neither is there any likelihood that enuie and malignity died and were buried with the ancient.
1665. Manley, Grotius’s L.-Countr. Wars, 287. The famousest Engine of War now used, of whose use, the Antients were utterly ignorant.
1751. Watts, Improv. Mind, ii. (1801), 21. The doctrines of the antients.
1880. Haughton, Phys. Geog., v. 211. To the Ancients the Nile appeared almost miraculous.
b. esp. The ancient authors of Greece and Rome; the ancient classics. Hence, An ancient classic.
1615. G. Sandys, Trav., 210. In fame it [Sidon] contendeth with Tyrus … and is more celebrated by the Ancient.
a. 1633. Hales, in Shaks. Cent. Praise, 198. If Mr. Shakespear had not read the Antients.
1749. Fielding, Tom Jones, III. iii. (1840), 26. He was deeply read in the ancients.
1763. J. Brown, Poetry & Mus., § 6. 135. The same respectable Ancient [Plutarch] assures us, that [etc.].
1777. Sir W. Jones, Poems, etc. Pref. 14. We always return to the writings of the ancients.
1870. Lowell, Study Wind., 222. The only method by which a poet may … reckon on ever becoming an ancient himself.
2. The Ancient of Days: a scriptural title of the Almighty.
1560. Bible (Genev.), Dan. vii. 9. I beheld till the thrones were set vp, and the Ancient of dayes did sit. [So 1611; Wyclif elde, Coverdale olde aged.]
3. An old or aged man (or animal); a patriarch.
1502. Ord. Crysten Men (W. de Worde), II. viii. (1506), 107. Those the whyche mocketh with these auncyentes.
1603. Philotus, clxviii. Let countenance accord with ȝour gray hairis Ȝe auncients all.
1661. Lovell, Hist. Anim. & Min., 15. [Beavers] gnaw down trees to build with, and draw them on the bellies of their antients.
1753. Richardson, Grandison (1781), VI. ix. 32. Incomparable woman! If I were such an excellent ancient, I would no more wish to be young.
1790. Cowper, Odyss., IV. 517. Then, hero, loose the ancient of the deep [Proteus].
1814. Southey, Roderick, iii. Wks. IX. 28. A venerable ancient, by his side A comely matron.
1837. Dickens, Pickw. (1847), 160/2. ‘My father, sir,’ replied Mr. Weller. ‘How are you, my ancient?’
† 4. An ancestor. Obs. rare.
1540. Hyrde, Vives’ Instr. Chr. Woman (1592), D vij. The auncient of his stocke is before the making of the Worlde.
1603. H. Crosse, Vertues Commw. (1878), 21. Can a man … brag of the Vertues of his auncients, if his owne life be vitious?
1649. Motion to Parl., 6. Our Ancients were Gyants, and we are Dwarfs.
† 5. A senior, a superior in age; usually with possessive, his ancient. Cf. Fr. son ancien. Obs.
1548. Udall, etc., Erasm. Paraphr. Mark ix. 34. They sawe howe Peter had the preeminence … yet sum of theim were his auncients.
1553–87. Foxe, A. & M. (1596), 767/1. Gower was a great deale his [Chaucer’s] ancient.
1628. Mede, in Ellis, Orig. Lett., I. III. 279. Justice Jones being the ancient on the bench.
1640. Fuller, Abel Rediv., Reinolds (1867), II. 220. Reinolds was … bred up in the same college … with Jewel his ancient and R. Hooker his contemporary.
1659. Lestrange, Alliance Div. Off., 105. To these evidences out of Jerome and Chrysostom, let me add that of Gregory Nazianzen antient to them both.
6. As a title of dignity: An ‘Elder.’ arch.
1534. More, On the Passion, Wks. 1557, 1299/1. Than gathered there together the prynces of the priestes and the auncientes, into the Palyce of … Caiphas.
1587. Fleming, Contn. Holinshed, III. 342/1. The wardens, the ancients of the handicrafts.
1611. Bible, Jer. xix. 1. Take of the ancients of the people, and of the ancients of the Priestes.
1654. Ussher, Annals, VI. (1658), 378. Conferring with some of the Ancients of the Town.
1708. New View Lond., II. 480/2. The Vestry … is … composed of the Ancients of the Parish, who have passed Churchwarden.
1769. Home, Fatal Discov., IV. I go to meet the ancients of the land, The hoary counsellors.
7. Law. One of the senior members forming the governing body of the Inns of Court and of Chancery (More or less Obs. in use.)
1563. Act 5 Eliz., i. As well Utter barresters, as Benchers, Readers, Auncients in any house or houses of Court.
1570. Ascham, Scholem., 62. When he was Auncient in Inne of Courte, certaine yong Ientlemen were brought before him, to be corrected for certaine misorders.
1685. Lond. Gaz., mmx/6. From the Principal, Antients, and the rest of the Gentlemen of the Society of Bernards-Inn, London.
1691. Blount, Law Dict., Ancient, In Grey’s-Inn the Society consists of Benchers, Ancients, Barrasters, and Students under the Bar.
1751. Chambers, Cycl., s.v., Here [Gray’s-inn] the ancients are the elder barristers.
1860. Forster, Grand Remonstr., 120. On going into commons at the Temple, he found himself, lad as he was, ‘ancient’ to above two hundred elder Templars.
