antientest
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English
[edit]Adjective
[edit]antientest
- superlative form of antient: most antient
- 1669 [1665], John Nievhoff, “Of ſeveral SECTS in CHINA : Concerning PHILOSOPHY, and IDOL WORSHIP.”, in John Ogilby, transl., An Embassy from the Eaſt-India Company of the United Provinces, to the Grand Tartar Cham Emperour of China[1], London: John Macock, translation of original in Dutch, →OCLC, page 216:
- Theſe Books mention only three Sects to have been in vogue in the World ; for of other Sects there is not the leaſt mention made. The firſt is the Sect of the Learned : The ſecond is called Sciequia : And the third Lancu. The firſt of theſe three is followed by all the Chineſes, and the adjacent People, which uſe the Chineſe Characters, as the Iſlanders of Japan, Corea, and Couchinchina : this Sect, which is that of the Learned, is taught to, and followed by none, but only thoſe and the Chineſes themſelves, and is the Antienteſt of all the Sects that were ever heard of in China : Out of this, about which a very great number of Books are writ, generally are choſen perſons fit for the Government of the Empire ; and therefore it is honoured and eſteemed above all others. The Doctrine of this Sect is not taught all at once, but they ſuck it in by degrees when they learn to Read or Write. The firſt Founder of this Sect was Confutius, the Prince of Chineſe Philoſophers, who is to this day honoured by all the Learned, with the Title of the The moſt Wiſe.