ancien régime

See also: ancien regime and Ancien Régime

English

Etymology

From French ancien régime (“former rule, former order”); the term first appeared in English print in 1794.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) enPR: (approximately): äɴsiăɴ ʀézhim, IPA^(key): [ɑ̃siæ̃ ʁeʒim],
• (US) IPA^(key): /ɑn.sjɛn ɹeɪˈʒim/

Noun

ancien régime (plural anciens régimes)

1. (derogatory, politics) A system of government long since supplanted by another, particularly a state of feudalism with an absolute monarchy supported by the doctrine of divine right with the explicit consent of an established church.

   Synonym: old regime

Translations

system of government long since supplanted by another

• Dutch: ancien régime
• Finnish: vanha valta
• Greek: προηγούμενο καθεστώς n (proïgoúmeno kathestós)
• Portuguese: ancien régime m
• Spanish: antiguo régimen m

French

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɑ̃.sjɛ̃ ʁe.ʒim/

• Audio:

  (file)

Noun

ancien régime m (plural anciens régimes)

1. former government

Usage notes

The term is used generically in French to refer to any previous government, without automatic negative connotations. In English, the term is generally used pejoratively.

Descendants

• → English: ancien régime
• → Portuguese: ancien régime

Portuguese

Alternative forms

• ancien regime

Etymology

Unadapted borrowing from French ancien régime.

Noun

ancien régime m (plural anciens régimes)

1. (historical) ancien régime (system of government long since supplanted by another)