ancient

• Bezeichnet etwas, das sehr alt ist und oft aus einer weit zurückliegenden Zeit stammt, etwa aus der Antike oder der Frühgeschichte.

Describes something that belongs to the very distant past, especially before the end of the Roman Empire in Western history.

1. Very old, from a distant pastA2formal

   Belonging to times long past, especially before the Middle Ages.

   Antik

   • The pyramids are ancient Egyptian monuments.
   • She collects ancient Roman coins.
   • Ancient civilizations developed writing systems.

   Synonymeage-oldantiquearchaichoaryoldoldenprehistoricprimevalprimordialtimeworn

   Antonymecontemporarymodernnewrecent

2. Very old person or thingA2informal

   Extremely old, often used informally for people or objects.

   Sehr alt

   • My grandma is ancient but still active.
   • This computer is ancient and too slow.
   • He's an ancient relative from my father's side.

   Synonymeagedantiquearchaicoldprehistoric

   Antonymefreshmodernnewrecentyoung

• Substantiv, das eine Person bezeichnet, die in ferner Vergangenheit lebte, besonders vor dem Untergang des Weströmischen Reiches, oder einen sehr alten Menschen.

A noun referring to a person who lived in times long past, especially before the fall of the Western Roman Empire, or a very old individual.

1. Very old personB2informal

   A person who is extremely old, often used humorously or affectionately.

   Alter

   • The ancient in the corner told stories of the war.
   • My grandfather is a real ancient, he remembers the 1920s.
   • Don't call your teacher an ancient, it's disrespectful.

   Synonymedinosaurelderfossilold-timeroldsterrelicsenior citizen

2. Person from ancient timesB1formal

   A person who lived in a historical period long past, especially before the fall of the Western Roman Empire.

   Antiker Mensch

   • The ancients built magnificent structures like the pyramids.
   • We study the philosophies of the ancients to understand their world.
   • The ancients believed the Earth was flat.

3. Belonging to times long pastA2formal

   Relating to the historical period before the fall of the Western Roman Empire.

   antik

   • Ancient Rome was a powerful empire.
   • She is an expert in ancient Greek literature.
   • The museum has a collection of ancient artifacts.

   Antonymemodern

4. Very oldA2informal

   Having existed for a very long time; extremely aged.

   uralt

   • That car is ancient, it's from the 1980s.
   • My phone is ancient compared to the new models.
   • They live in an ancient house with creaky floors.

   Synonymeage-oldagedantediluvianantiquearchaichoaryoldprehistorictimewornvenerable

   Antonymemodernnewrecent