ancien

Etymology

From Middle French ancien, from Old French ancien, from a Vulgar Latin root *anteanus or *antianu, from Latin ante. As the word does not completely conform to the expected phonetic evolution, it may have been semi-learned and used initially by clerics who were aware of the Vulgar Latin word (which does not appear until the (Old) French one does). See also the related Old and Middle French ains.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɑ̃.sjɛ̃/

• Audio (France, Paris)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɛ̃
• Homophone: anciens

Adjective

ancien (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

Further reading

• “ancien” in le Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).

Anagrams

• canine

Etymology

From Old French ancien.

Adjective

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

1. old
2. previous; former

Etymology

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

Adjective

ancien m

1. (Jersey) ancient

Alternative forms

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

Etymology

From a Vulgar Latin root *anteanus or *antianu, from Latin ante. Possibly a semi-learned word originally used by clerics. See also the related ains, ainz.

Adjective

ancien m (oblique and nominative feminine singular anciene)

1. old; ancient