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ancient

adjective
 
 
/ˈeɪn.ʃənt/

Definition

B1 of or from a long time ago, having lasted for a very long time: ancient civilizations/rights/laws ancient monuments/ruins/woodlands the ancient kingdoms of Mexico People have lived in this valley since ancient times. History, ancient and modern, has taught these people an intense distrust of their neighbours.Lasting for a long time informal very old: He's got an ancient computer.Old or old-fashionedThe elderly B1 describes the period in European history from the earliest known societies to the end of the Roman Empire: the ancient Egyptians/Greeks/Romans The ancient Britons inhabited these parts of England before the Roman invasion.Ancient history: before 500 AD
(Definition of ancient adjective from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

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