Part 429

<p><b>5.</b> <def>Experienced; versed.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<blockquote>Though was the youngest brother, yet he was the most <b>ancient</b> in the business of the realm. <i>Berners.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>6.</b> <def>Former; sometime.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<blockquote>They mourned their <b>ancient</b> leader lost. <i>Pope.</i></blockquote>

<cs><col>Ancient demesne</col> <fld>(Eng. Law)</fld>, <cd>a tenure by which all manors belonging to the crown, in the reign of William the Conqueror, were held. The numbers, names, etc., of these were all entered in a book called <i>Domesday Book<i>.</cd> -- <col>Ancient lights</col> <fld>(Law)</fld>, <cd>windows and other openings which have been enjoined without molestation for more than twenty years. In England, and in some of the United States, they acquire a prescriptive right.</cd></cs>

<syn>Syn. -- Old; primitive; pristine; antique; antiquated; old-fashioned; obsolete.</syn> <usage> -- <er>Ancient</er>, <er>Antiquated</er>, <er>Obsolete</er>, <er>Antique</er>, <er>Antic</er>, <er>Old</er>. -- <i>Ancient</i> is opposed to <i>modern</i>, and has antiquity; <as>as, an <ex>ancient</ex> family, <ex>ancient</ex> landmarks, <ex>ancient</ex> institutions, systems of thought, etc.</as> <i>Antiquated</i> describes that which has gone out of use or fashion; <as>as, <ex>antiquated</ex> furniture, <ex>antiquated</ex> laws, rules, etc.</as> <i>Obsolete</i> is commonly used, instead of <i>antiquated</i>, in reference to language, customs, etc.; <as>as, an <ex>obsolete</ex> word or phrase, an <ex>obsolete</ex> expression</as>. <i>Antique</i> is applied, in present usage, either to that which has come down from the ancients; <as>as, an <ex>antique</ex> cameo, bust, etc.</as> ; or to that which is made to imitate some ancient work of art; <as>as, an <ex>antique</ex> temple</as>. In the days of Shakespeare, <i>antique</i> was often used for <i>ancient</i>; as, "an <i>antique</i> song," "an <i>antique</i> Roman;" and hence, from singularity often attached to what is ancient, it was used in the sense of grotesque; as, "an oak whose <i>antique</i> root peeps out; " and hence came our present word <i>antic</i>, denoting grotesque or ridiculous. We usually apply both <i>ancient</i> and <i>old</i> to things subject to gradual decay. We say, an <i>old</i> man, an <i>ancient</i> record; but never, the <i>old</i> stars, an <i>old</i> river or mountain. In general, however, <i>ancient</i> is opposed to <i>modern</i>, and <i>old</i> to <i>new</i>, <i>fresh</i>, or <i>recent</i>. When we speak of a thing that existed formerly, which has ceased to exist, we commonly use <i>ancient</i>; as, <i>ancient</i> republics, <i>ancient</i> heroes; and not <i>old</i> republics, <i>old</i> heroes. But when the thing which began or existed in former times is still in existence, we use either <i>ancient</i> or <i>old</i>; <as>as, <ex>ancient</ex> statues or paintings, or <ex>old</ex> statues or paintings</as>; <i>ancient</i> authors, or <i>old</i> authors, meaning books.</usage>

<h1>Ancient</h1> <Xpage=55>

<hw>An"cient</hw>, <tt>n.</tt> <p><b>1.</b> <pluf>pl.</pluf> <def>Those who lived in former ages, as opposed to the <i>moderns</i>.</def>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>An aged man; a patriarch. Hence: A governor; a ruler; a person of influence.</def>

<blockquote>The Lord will enter into judgment with the <b>ancients</b> of his people, and the princes thereof. <i>Isa. iii. 14.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>3.</b> <def>A senior; an elder; a predecessor.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<blockquote>Junius and Andronicus . . . in Christianity . . . were his <b>ancients</b>. <i>Hooker.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>4.</b> <plu>pl.</plu> <fld>(Eng. Law)</fld> <def>One of the senior members of the Inns of Court or of Chancery.</def>

<cs><col>Council of Ancients</col> <fld>(French Hist.)</fld>, <cd>one of the two assemblies composing the legislative bodies in 1795.</cd>

<i>Brande.</i> </cs>

<h1>Ancient</h1> <Xpage=55>

<hw>An"cient</hw>, <tt>n.</tt> <ety>[Corrupted from <ets>ensign</ets>.]</ety> <p><b>1.</b> <def>An ensign or flag.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<blockquote>More dishonorable ragged than an old-faced <b>ancient</b>. <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>The bearer of a flag; an ensign.</def> <mark>[Obs.]</mark>

<blockquote>This is Othello's <b>ancient</b>, as I take it. <i>Shak.</i></blockquote>

<h1>Anciently</h1> <Xpage=55>

<hw>An"cient*ly</hw>, <tt>adv.</tt> <p><b>1.</b> <def>In ancient times.</def>

<p><b>2.</b> <def>In an ancient manner.</def> <mark>[R.]</mark>

<h1>Ancientness</h1> <Xpage=55>

<hw>An"cient*ness</hw>, <tt>n.</tt> <def>The quality of being ancient; antiquity; existence from old times.</def>

<h1>Ancientry</h1> <Xpage=55>

<hw>An"cient*ry</hw> <tt>(#)</tt>, <tt>n.</tt> <p><b>1.</b> <def>Antiquity; what is ancient.</def>

<blockquote>They contain not word of <b>ancientry</b>. <i>West.</i></blockquote>