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Etymology
Dictionary
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Origin of the word ANCIENT.
Etymology of the word
ANCIENT.
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From An Etymology
Dictionary of the English Language, by Walter W. Skeat, 1893. |
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ANCIENT (1),
old. (F.,—L.) Skelton has auncyently, Works, ed.
Dyce, i. 7. The M.E. form is auncien, Mandeville, p. 93; thus
the final t is excrescent, as in tyrant.—O.F. ancien
(mod. F. ancien), old; cognate with Ital. anziano, Span. anciano.—Low
Lat. antianus, old, Ducange. Formed by Lat. suffix -anus
from Lat. ante.—Lat. ante, before. See Ante-.
Der. ancient-ly, ancient-ness. ANCIENT
(2), a banner,
standard-bearer. (F.,—L.) In Shak. I Hen. IV, iv. 2. 34;
cf. Oth. i. 1. 33. Here (as above) the t is excrescent, and ancient
stands for ancien, prob. a corruption of O.F. enseigne, 'an
ensigne, auncient, standard-bearer;' Cot. See Ensign.
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| Etymology
Dictionary Index |
| A, B,
C, D, E,
F, G, H,
I, J, K,
L, M, N,
O, P, Q,
R, S, T,
U, V, W,
X, Y, Z
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| Key |
| Arab.=Arabic. |
| A.S.=Anglo
Saxon. |
| Bavar.=Bavarian |
| Bohem.=Bohemian. |
| C.=Celtic,
used as a general term for Irish, Gaelic, Welsh, Breton,
Cornish, &c. |
| Corn.=Cornish. |
| Dan.=Danish. |
| Du.=Dutch |
| E.=English. |
| E.E.=Early
English. |
| Europ.=European. |
| F.=French. |
| G.=German. |
| Gk.=Greek. |
| Goth.=Gothic. |
| Icel.=Icelandic. |
| Ital.=Italian. |
| L. or
Lat.=Latin. |
| Lith.
& Lithuan.=Lithuanian. |
| M.E.=Middle
English. |
| M.F.=Middle
French |
| M.H.G.=Middle
High German. |
| Norw.=Norwegian. |
| O.F.=Old
French. |
| O.H.G.=Old
High German. |
| Pers.=Persian. |
| Port.=Portuguese. |
| Scand.=Scandinavian,
used as a general term for Icelandic, Swedish, Danish,
&c. |
| Sc.=Scottish. |
| Skt.=Sanskrit. |
| Span.=Spanish. |
| Swed.=Sweish. |
| Teut.=Teutonic |
| Turk.=Turkish. |
| W.=Welsh. |
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