Archaic vs. Ancient — What's the Difference?

Also Archaic Relating to, being, or characteristic of a much earlier, often more primitive period, especially one that develops into a classical stage of civilization

Belonging to the very distant past and no longer in existence

No longer current or applicable; antiquated

An old man

Relating to, being, or characteristic of words and language that were once in regular use but are now relatively rare and suggestive of an earlier style or period.

A standard, flag, or ensign.

Relating to or being an early or premodern evolutionary form of an organism or group of organisms

Of, relating to, or belonging to times long past, especially before the fall of the Western Roman Empire (AD 476)

Relating to or being an early form of Homo sapiens or a closely related species, such as Neanderthal, that is anatomically distinct from modern humans.

Of great age; very old

Archaic Relating to a Native American culture prevalent throughout much of North America from about 8000 BC to about 1000 BC, characterized especially by the development of Mesolithic tools and by the increased reliance on smaller game animals as the large Pleistocene mammals became extinct.

(Archaic) Having the qualities associated with age, wisdom, or long use; venerable

A member of an archaic population of Homo.

A very old person.

A general term for the prehistoric period intermediate between the earliest period (‘[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paleo-Indian Paleo-Indian]’, ‘Paleo-American’, ‘American‐paleolithic’, &c.) of human presence in the Western Hemisphere, and the most recent prehistoric period (‘Woodland’, etc.).

A person who lived in times long past.

(paleoanthropology) (A member of) an archaic variety of Homo sapiens.

The peoples of the classical nations of antiquity.

Of or characterized by antiquity; old-fashioned, quaint, antiquated.

The ancient Greek and Roman authors.

(of words) No longer in ordinary use, though still used occasionally to give a sense of antiquity and are still likely to be understood by well-educated speakers and are found in historical texts.

(Archaic) An ensign; a flag.

(archaeology) Belonging to the archaic period

(Obsolete) A flag-bearer or lieutenant.

Of or characterized by antiquity or archaism; antiquated; obsolescent.

Having lasted from a remote period; having been of long duration; of great age, very old.

So extremely old as seeming to belong to an earlier period;

Existent or occurring in time long past, usually in remote ages; belonging to or associated with antiquity; old, as opposed to modern.

Little evolved from or characteristic of an earlier ancestral type;

(history) Relating to antiquity as a primarily European historical period; the time before the Middle Ages.

(obsolete) Experienced; versed.

(obsolete) Former; sometime.

A person who is very old.

A person who lived in ancient times.

One of the senior members of the Inns of Court or of Chancery.

(obsolete) A senior; an elder; a predecessor.

A flag, banner, standard or ensign.

The bearer of a flag; ensign

Old; that happened or existed in former times, usually at a great distance of time; belonging to times long past; specifically applied to the times before the fall of the Roman empire; - opposed to modern; as, ancient authors, literature, history; ancient days.

Old; that has been of long duration; of long standing; of great age; as, an ancient forest; an ancient castle.

Known for a long time, or from early times; - opposed to recent or new; as, the ancient continent.

Dignified, like an aged man; magisterial; venerable.

Experienced; versed.

Former; sometime.

Those who lived in former ages, as opposed to the moderns.

An aged man; a patriarch. Hence: A governor; a ruler; a person of influence.

A senior; an elder; a predecessor.

One of the senior members of the Inns of Court or of Chancery.

An ensign or flag.

The bearer of a flag; an ensign.

Belonging to times long past especially of the historical period before the fall of the Western Roman Empire;

Very old;