Talk:ancient

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Latest comment: 2 months ago by FyeJeester in topic Somewhat common pronunciation?
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Quantification[edit]

Erm, why is there not some sort of quantification of ancient? ie minimum age 500 years or some such? Sounds like there needs to be an age "metric" system... —This unsigned comment was added by 12.208.205.198 (talkcontribs) 16:13, 21 November 2005‎ (UTC).Reply

if i just means old than when i turn 70 i'm ancient?? —This unsigned comment was added by 24.152.160.130 (talkcontribs) 23:09, 16 March 2008‎ (UTC).Reply

There just isn't, any more than there is an "official" colour beyond which a shade becomes blue. Most words aren't that precise. Equinox 21:13, 28 October 2012 (UTC)Reply

ancient[edit]

anything over 1 thousand years old is ancient —This unsigned comment was added by Jables5000 (talkcontribs) 04:03, 21 October 2008‎ (UTC).Reply

Surely not in biology or geology, where 1000 years is pretty "recent". And even in human history, egyptologists won't accept 1000 years as ancient. On the other hand, in North American architecture, where, say, 80-year-old buildings are called "historical", I don't know what little amount of time would be enough to call them "ancient". So, as user Equinox said above: words aren't that precise. And may I add: it's good they're not. 178.1.250.125 15:27, 2 October 2022 (UTC)Reply

Another example[edit]

Iago is Othello's ancient (ensign). Jimp 06:01, 29 November 2009 (UTC)Reply

Flag, ensign[edit]

Is under two different etymologies. Can anyone confirm this is the case, that is, it comes separately from ancient, adjective, and it's a corruption of ensign? 2.30.99.131 17:14, 1 May 2019 (UTC)Reply

Somewhat common pronunciation?[edit]

I usually pronounce ancient as "eink-shint," and I feel like I've heard this pronunciation a lot in my area (I live in northeast Texas). Has anyone else heard this, and if so, is it common enough to add as a pronunciation? FyeJeester (talk) 15:11, 5 March 2024 (UTC)Reply

I should clarify, has anyone else anywhere else heard this? I know at least people in my area say this, I'm asking if this happens in other places in the English-speaking world. FyeJeester (talk) 16:19, 5 March 2024 (UTC)Reply