French

Adjective

ancien m ‎(feminine singular ancienne, masculine plural anciens, feminine plural anciennes)

1. (before a noun) old, former, ex-:

   Mon ancien petit ami m'a plaquée.‎

   My ex-boyfriend ditched me.

2. (after a noun) ancient

Usage notes

• When ancien comes before the noun it modifies, it means old, former or ex-; after, it means ancient.

Related terms

• anciennement
• ancienneté

Anagrams

• canine

Middle French

Etymology

Old French ancien.

Adjective

ancien m ‎(feminine singular ancienne, masculine plural anciens, feminine plural anciennes)

1. old
2. previous; former

Descendants

• French: ancien

Norman

Etymology

From Old French ancien, from Vulgar Latin *anteanus or *antianu, from Latin ante.

Adjective

ancien m

1. (Jersey) ancient

Derived terms

• anciennement
• ancienneté ‎(“ancient times”)

Old French

Alternative forms

• ancïen (diaereses not universally used by scholars of Old French)

Etymology

From Vulgar Latin root *anteanus or *antianu, from Latin ante.

Adjective

ancien m ‎(oblique and nominative feminine singular anciene)

1. old; ancient

Antonyms

• juene

Descendants

• English: ancient
• French: ancien