ancient

• Qualifie ce qui est très vieux, datant d'une époque lointaine, souvent historique ou mythique. Peut aussi évoquer le caractère vénérable ou usé par le temps.

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.

   Ancien (très vieux, d'un passé lointain)

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

   Synonymesage-oldantiquearchaichoaryoldoldenprehistoricprimevalprimordialtimeworn

   Antonymescontemporarymodernnewrecent

2. Very old person or thingA2informal

   Extremely old, often used informally for people or objects.

   Très vieux ou très ancien

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

   Synonymesagedantiquearchaicoldprehistoric

   Antonymesfreshmodernnewrecentyoung

• Nom désignant une personne ayant vécu dans un passé lointain, en particulier avant la chute de l'Empire romain d'Occident, ou une personne très âgée.

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.

   Personne très âgée

   • 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.

   Synonymesdinosaurelderfossilold-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.

   Ancien (personne de l'Antiquité)

   • 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.

   antique (relatif à l'Antiquité)

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

   Antonymesmodern

4. Very oldA2informal

   Having existed for a very long time; extremely aged.

   très ancien

   • 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.

   Synonymesage-oldagedantediluvianantiquearchaichoaryoldprehistorictimewornvenerable

   Antonymesmodernnewrecent