ancientry

Etymology

Definitions

1. 1

   The quality or fact of being ancient or very old.

   • PEN, made of reed, cut, &c. like our pens, is of classical ancientry; but the first certain account of quill pens is in 636, in Isidore.
2. 2

   Old-fashioned style, elaborate ceremony.

   • So he and Miss Vezzis were married with great state and ancientry; and now there are several little D'Cruzes sprawling about the verandahs of the Central Telegraph Office.
3. 3

   Elderly people, elders, ancients (collectively).

   • I would there were no age between sixteen and three-and-twenty, or that youth would sleep out the rest; for there is nothing in the between but getting wenches with child, wronging the ancientry, stealing, fighting—
   • The man and all his kin, the ancientry of England, were at deadly enmity with this Welshman who had curbed their power, and was bringing in a horde of new men to take their places.
4. ›+ 2 more definitionsshow fewer

   1. 4

      Something ancient (countable)

      Something ancient (countable); ancient things (collectively).

      • Kings Lynn is a pleasant town to ramble about. […] In its quiet and more secluded streets you come upon bits of ancientry, the waifs and strays of monastic times […]
      • O fair, sweet lady of the morn, Walking breast-high amid the pines, Hast thou the darkling raven taught To croak her fabled ancientries?
   2. 5

      The olden days

      The olden days; antiquity.

      • Ere all, in ancientry æterne, was God (Holy and blessed always be His name) In essence inconceivable.

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