anciennes

Anciennes is the feminine plural form of the French adjective ancien. It is used to describe things that are old, past, or of historical origin, and its nuance depends on placement relative to the noun it accompanies.

Originating in Old French, ancien ultimately derives from Latin antiquus, meaning ancient or old.

In French, the position of ancien changes meaning: when placed before a noun, it often conveys a former status or previous relation (for example, un ancien roi, des anciennes amies); when placed after the noun, it emphasizes age or antiquity (for example, des maisons anciennes). The adjective agrees in gender and number with the noun, so feminine plural becomes anciennes.

Common examples include des anciennes maisons (old, historically meaningful houses), des maisons anciennes (houses that are ancient), une ancienne collègue (a former female colleague), and une collègue ancienne (a longtime or elder colleague, depending on context). The distinction is subtle and frequently depends on common usage and emphasis.

See also: ancien, ancienne, antique, vieux.