Definition

Adverb: 1. In ancient times; long ago: Refers to a period in the distant past, often to the classical or prehistoric eras.

Usage

The adverb "anciently" is used to describe when something occurred or existed in the very distant past. It is a formal or literary term. * It typically modifies a verb to indicate the time of an action. * It can be used to introduce a historical fact or context.

Examples

• Modifying a verb: "This land was anciently covered by a vast sea." (This land was covered by a vast sea in ancient times.)
• Introducing context: "Anciently, people navigated using the stars." (Long ago, people navigated using the stars.)
• Historical fact: "The city was anciently known by a different name." (The city was known by a different name long ago.)

Advanced Usage

• "as was anciently the custom": as was the tradition or practice long ago.
  • The ceremony, as was anciently the custom, began at dawn.
• Used in academic or historical writing to situate events or practices in a deep historical timeframe.

Variants and Related Words

• Ancient (adjective): Belonging to the very distant past.
  • They studied ancient civilizations.
• Antiquity (noun): The ancient past, especially the period of classical Greek and Roman history.
  • Many laws have their roots in antiquity.

Synonyms

• In antiquity
• In ancient times
• Long ago
• In bygone days

Antonyms

• Recently
• Lately
• In modern times
• Currently

Related Phrases

• From time immemorial: From a time so long ago that people have no knowledge or record of it.
  • This forest has been protected from time immemorial.
• In days of yore: In the past (a poetic or literary phrase).
  • In days of yore, knights embarked on great quests.

Adverb

1. in ancient times; long ago
   • a concern with what may have happened anciently