Of or relating to times long past, especially those of the historical period before the fall of the Western Roman Empire (A.D. 476). See Synonyms at old.
Old-fashioned; antiquated.
Having the qualities associated with age, wisdom, or long use; venerable.
n.
A very old person.
A person who lived in times long past.
ancients
The peoples of the classical nations of antiquity.
The ancient Greek and Roman authors.
[Middle English auncien, from Old French, from Vulgar Latin *anteānus : Latin ante, before; see ant- in Indo-European roots + -ānus, adj. and n. suff.] an'cient·ly adv., an'cient·ness n.