† ˈanciency Obs.
Forms: 6 aunciencie, 6–7 anciencie, 7 anciancie, 7–8 anciency.
[corruption of earlier ancienty, due to the erroneous assimilation of ancient, orig. a(u)ncien, to ppl. adjs. in -ent, whose abstracts are in -ency; cf. decent, decency.]
The quality of being ancient; ancientness, oldness, antiquity.
| 1548 Coverdale Erasm. Paraphr. Jude 21 It hathe ben taken worthye authoritie both for the aunciencie and use of it. 1587 Holinshed Scot. Chron. (1806) I. 36 Esteeming it a glorie to fetch their beginning of great anciencie. 1608 Topsell Serpents 639 In regard of their gravity, hoariness, and anciency. 1661 Jura Cleri 42 The Bishops follow him..according to the Dignity and Anciancies of their Respective Sees. 1759 Robertson Hist. Scotl. II. App. ix. 153 The anciency of his house. |