1. People who lived in times long past (especially during the historical period before the fall of the Roman Empire in western Europe)
   "the ancients believed that blood was the seat of the emotions"

1. A person who lived in ancient times
   "The writings of the ancients provide valuable insights into early civilizations"
    
2. A very old person
   "The ancient storyteller captivated the children with tales from long ago";
   - antediluvian

Type of: actor, doer, golden ager [N. Amer, informal], old person, oldster [N. Amer, informal], people, senior citizen, worker

Encyclopedia: Ancients