"Ancient" is a word in ENGLISH
An ensign or flag.
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.
Known for a long time, or from early times; -- opposed to
recent or new; as, the ancient continent.
One of the senior members of the Inns of Court or of
Chancery.
Dignified, like an aged man; magisterial; venerable.
A senior; an elder; a predecessor.
An aged man; a patriarch. Hence: A governor; a ruler; a
person of influence.
Experienced; versed.
The bearer of a flag; an ensign.
Former; sometime.
Old; that has been of long duration; of long standing; of
great age; as, an ancient forest; an ancient castle.
Those who lived in former ages, as opposed to the moderns.
I had ceased to be a writer of tolerably poor tales and essays, and had become a tolerably good Surveyor of the Customs. That was all. But, nevertheless, it is any thing but agreeable to be haunted by a suspicion that one's intellect is dwindling away; or exhaling, without your consciousness, like ether out of a phial; so that, at every glance, you find a smaller and less volatile residuum. Of the fact, there could be no doubt; and, examining myself and others, I was led to conclusions in reference to the effect of public office on the character, not very favorable to the mode of life in question. In some other form, perhaps, I may hereafter develop these effects. Suffice it here to say, that a Custom-House officer, of long continuance, can hardly be a very praiseworthy or respectable personage, for many reasons; one of them, the tenure by which he holds his situation, and another, the very nature of his business, which—though, I trust, an honest one—is of such a sort that he does not share in the united effort of mankind.An effect—which I believe to be observable, more or less, in every individual who has occupied the position—is, that, while he leans on the mighty arm of the Republic, his own proper strength departs from him. He loses, in an extent proportioned to the weakness or force of his original nature, the capability of self-support. If he possess an unusual share of native energy, or the enervating magic of place do not operate too long upon him, his forfeited powers may be redeemable. The ejected officer—fortunate in the unkindly shove that sends him forth betimes, to struggle amid a struggling world—may return to himself, and become all that he has ever been. But this seldom happens. He usually keeps his ground just long enough for his own ruin, and is then thrust out, with sinews all unstrung, to totter along the difficult footpath of life as he best may. Conscious of his own infirmity,—that his tempered steel and elasticity are lost,—he for ever afterwards looks wistfully about him in quest of support external to himself. His pervading and continual hope—a hallucination, which, in the face of all discouragement, and making light of impossibilities, haunts him while he lives, and, I fancy, like the convulsive throes of the cholera, torments him for a brief space after death—is, that, finally, and in no long time, by some happy coincidence of circumstances, he shall be restored to office. This faith, more than any thing else, steals the pith and availability out of whatever enterprise he may dream of undertaking. Why should he toil and moil, and be at so much trouble to pick himself up out of the mud, when, in a little while hence, the strong arm of his Uncle will raise and support him? Why should he work for his living here, or go to dig gold in California, when he is so soon to be made happy, at monthly intervals, with a little pile of glittering coin out of his Uncle's pocket? It is sadly curious to observe how slight a taste of office suffices to infect a poor fellow with this singular disease. Uncle Sam's gold—meaning no disrespect to the worthy old gentleman—has, in this respect, a quality of enchantment like that of the Devil's wages. Whoever touches it should look well to himself, or he may find the bargain to go hard against him, involving, if not his soul, yet many of its better attributes; its sturdy force, its courage and constancy, its truth, its self-reliance, and all that gives the emphasis to manly character.
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Why does your sister have yeast and shoe polish for breakfast ? Because she wants to rise and shine.
In ancient times.
Read the complete definitionThe quality of being ancient; antiquity; existence from old times.
Read the complete definitionHeld or being before light; -- a word applied to assemblies of Christians, in ancient times of persecution, held before …
Read the complete definitionOne devoted to the study of ancient times through their relics, as inscriptions, monuments, remains of ancient habitations, statues, coins, …
Read the complete definitionA relic or monument of ancient times; as, a coin, a statue, etc.; an ancient institution. [In this sense, usually …
Read the complete definitionAncient times; former ages; times long since past; as, Cicero was an eloquent orator of antiquity.
Read the complete definitionThe ancients; the people of ancient times.
Read the complete definitionIn English ecclesiastical law. A court of appeal belonging to the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Judge of which is called …
Read the complete definitionTo rise, in a figurative sense; to proceed from an inferior to a superior degree, from mean to noble objects, …
Read the complete definitionAn engine used in ancient times to beat down the walls of besieged places.
Read the complete definitionThe name glven to the ancient system of law of Ireland as lt existed at the time of Its conquest …
Read the complete definitionOne who engages in any contest; esp. one who in ancient times contended in single combat in behalf of another's …
Read the complete definitionPertaining to the Cimmerii, a fabulous people, said to have lived, in very ancient times, in profound and perpetual darkness.
Read the complete definitionThe superior courts, both of law and equity, were for centuries fixed at Westmiuster, an ancient palace of the monarchs …
Read the complete definitionOne of the stockaded islands in Scotland and Ireland which in ancient times were numerous in the lakes of both …
Read the complete definitiondáan - Old, ancient, antiquated, used, worn, out of date or fashion, behind the times, primitive, archaic. Dáan na iníng …
Read the complete definitionLat By the grace of God. A phrase used in the formal title of a "king or queen, importing a …
Read the complete definitionEffected or produced by a flood or deluge of water; -- said of coarse and imperfectly stratified deposits along ancient …
Read the complete definitionA period of from four to six weeks, in the summer, variously placed by almanac makers between the early part …
Read the complete definition(Sax.) An ancient record made in the time of william the Conqueror, and now remain-ing in the English exchequer, consisting …
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