ancient > define

Belonging to times long past especially of the historical period before the fall of the Western Roman Empire.
- usage: "ancient history"; "ancient civilizations such as those of the Etruscans and Sumerians"; "ancient Greece"
Very old.
- usage: "an ancient mariner"

(n.) Those who lived in former ages, as opposed to the moderns.
(n.) An aged man; a patriarch. Hence: A governor; a ruler; a person of influence.
(n.) The bearer of a flag; an ensign.
(a.) Dignified, like an aged man; magisterial; venerable.
(n.) One of the senior members of the Inns of Court or of Chancery.
(a.) Former; sometime.
(n.) A senior; an elder; a predecessor.
(a.) Old; that has been of long duration; of long standing; of great age; as, an ancient forest; an ancient castle.
(a.) Old; that happened or existed in former times, usually at a great distance of time; belonging to times long past; specifically applied to the times before the fall of the Roman empire; -- opposed to modern; as, ancient authors, literature, history; ancient days.
(a.) Experienced; versed.
(n.) An ensign or flag.
(a.) Known for a long time or from early times; -- opposed to recent or new; as, the ancient continent.

by Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary