ancient
ancient — adjective
1. coming from a very distant past, or continuing from that past until now.
coming from a very distant past, or continuing from that past until now.
The museum displayed ancient tools found under the desert sand.
ancient + object from the past
Her family still follows an ancient custom at New Year.
ancient + custom/tradition
An ancient path runs from the village to the hilltop temple.
These songs come from ancient times and are sung at harvest festivals.
- age-old
stresses something continuing for many generations
- long-standing
best for customs, problems, or traditions that have lasted a long time
- old
the broad everyday word; ancient suggests a much more distant past
文法句型
ancient + noun
用法筆記
Often modifies nouns like custom, path, law, story, or tool. Distinguish from sense 2: this sense points to distant historical origin or long continuity, not only great age.
2. having existed for so many years that it seems extremely old.
having existed for so many years that it seems extremely old.
An ancient oak tree still stands beside the school playground.
ancient + tree/building/object
Workers repaired the ancient bridge stone by stone last summer.
She bought an ancient clock that no longer keeps good time.
By noon, the hikers reached an ancient wall above the valley.
文法句型
ancient + noun
用法筆記
Usually describes physical things such as trees, walls, bridges, books, or machines. In everyday speech, calling a living person 'ancient' often sounds humorous or rude.
常見錯誤
3. connected with Greece, Rome, and other early civilizations before the Roman Empi
connected with Greece, Rome, and other early civilizations before the Roman Empire ended.
She is studying ancient Greece in her world history class.
ancient + civilization name
The film shows soldiers marching through an ancient Roman city.
ancient Roman + noun
Our teacher compared ancient Egypt with modern nations.
Ancient philosophers often wrote about duty, friendship, and the good life.
- modern
belonging to recent or present times
- contemporary
existing in the same period as the present
文法句型
ancient + place/civilization name
用法筆記
Most often appears before names of places, peoples, or fields of study: ancient Egypt, ancient Greece, ancient Rome, ancient history. Distinguish from sense 1: this sense names a historical era, not just something from long ago.
常見錯誤
ancient — noun
1. someone who lived in the far past, especially in the Greek, Roman, or Egyptian w
someone who lived in the far past, especially in the Greek, Roman, or Egyptian world.
The poet often quoted the ancients when he discussed war.
the ancients in plural
In class, Dilnoza pointed at the wall map as the teacher described the ancients.
The guide explained how the ancients measured time by the sun.
In the museum hall, the guide compared our tools with those of the ancients.
- forebear
more literary and often linked to a family or people of the past
- ancestor
usually someone in your own family line, so it is narrower
- predecessor
broader; can mean any earlier person in a role or tradition
- modern
a person living in modern times
- contemporary
a person belonging to the present age
文法句型
an ancient
the ancients
用法筆記
Often used in the plural as 'the ancients' when talking about early peoples as a group. Singular 'an ancient' is possible, but it is much less common.