ancient, anshent

[A corruption of Fr. enseigne, from Low Lat. insignia, Lat. insigne = a standard.] [ENSIGN.] I. Of things: 1. A flag, ensign, or streamer of a ship, and formerly the flag or ensign also of a regiment. ten times more dishonourable ragged than an old-faced ancient."-Shakesp. 1 Hen. IV., iv. 2. "It was a spectacle extremely delightful to behold the jacks, the pendants, and the ancients sporting in the wind."- Don Quixote (ed. 1687), p. 569. ( Boucher .) 2. Heraldry: (a) In the form anshent = the guidon used at funerals. (b) A small flag ending in a point. (Glo . of Heraldry .) IL. Of persons: The bearer of a flag, a flag bearer, an ensign-bearer, an ensign in a regiment. "This is Othello's ancient , as I take it.- The same indeed, a very valiant fellow." Shakesp.: Othello, v. 1. "Tis one lago, ancient to the general."- Ibid ., ii. 4. ancient Pistol."- Shakesp .: 2 Hen , IV ., ii. 4. and now my whole charge consists of ancients, corporals, licutenants, gentlemen of companies "-Shakesp.: 1 Hen . IV . iv. 2 ān'-cient-lý, adv . [Eng. ancient; -ly.] In ancient times; in times long gone by; the antiquity being estimated in any of the ways mentioned under ANCIENT (q. v.). "The colewort is not an enemy, though that were anciently received, to the vine vine only, only, but bu to any other plant, because it draweth strongly the fattest juice of the earth."-Bacon.