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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1937 (DOST Vol. I).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Ancient, Aunciant, a. and n. Also: anceant, anciant, anc(e)yant, antiant, -ent, anscient, anch(e)ant, -iant, -ient; auncient, auntient, aunceant. [Late ME. auncient, -yent (1475), ME. auncien, -ian, etc., OF. ancien Ancien a.]

1. Belonging to, existing in or from, times long past.(a) 1456 Hay I. 34/1 (in the tyme ancient bypast); 112/14 (be ancient custumes of weris). 1492 Myll Spect. Asl. MS. I. 277/12 (the anceant philosophouris). 1513 Doug. i. v. 111 (ancyant faith); vi. 121 (of ancyant Troy). 1533 Bell. Livy I. 7 (anciant authouris). 1549 Compl. 43/15 (the maist anciant nobilis in ald tymes). 1568 Pref. Lyndsay 3 (historyis baith recent and ancient). a1578 Pitsc. I. 112/35 (the anscient toune of Constantinobill). 1600-1610 Melvill 628 (wrytteris, anchient and moderne). 1648 Ann. Banff I. 93 (the anchiant custome). 1681 Red Bk. Menteith II. 193 (the anchent familye of Montrose).(b) 1531 Bell. Boece I. 15 (our aunciant progenitouris of Ireland). 1562-3 Winȝet I. 8/15 (the auncient nobilitie of thair eldaris). 1567 Acts III. 43/2 (in the aunceant and accustomat tyme of ȝeir). 1596 Dalr. I. 2/8 (the aunciant writeris). 1620 Montgomery Mem. 285 (for mantenance of auncient amitie). 1691 Lauder Journal 302 (great and auntient families).

2. Having lived or existed long; old; aged.c1450-2 Howlat 315 (ernes ancient of air). a1500 Henr. III. 123/56 (this anciant man). 1492 Myll Spect. Asl. MS. I. 288/4 (with anceant ladyes and wedowis). 1513 Doug. i. iii. 48 (ancyant Alethes); iv. viii. 69 (the ancyant aik tre). 15.. Clar. iv. 982 (auncient Lordis seir). 1574 Bk. Univ. Kirk I. 300 (the ancientest minister in the toun). c1650 Spalding I. 117 (the most auncient preicher of the toune); 357 (ane grave auncient man).

3. n. An ancient author or writer.1606 Melvill 672 (in any of the Antiantis; among the Auntiauntis). 1606 Birnie Kirk-b. xiii. (the insuspect auncients).