Word a Day
ancient
What does ancient mean?
ancient (adjective): very old.
Definition: Princeton WordNet 3.1.
Where does ancient come from?
From Middle English auncyen, from Old French ancien, from Vulgar Latin *anteānus, composed of Latin ante (“before”) + -ānus (adjective-forming suffix).
Etymology: Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.
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What does “ancient” mean?
necessary
Not quite: that's what essential means.
not wide
Not quite: that's what narrow means.
very old
Right! That's what “ancient” means.
well known
Not quite: that's what famous means.
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