anciently

Anciently is an English adverb meaning “in ancient times; formerly; in antiquity.” It is chiefly found in historical, religious, or literary writing and is considered archaic or stylistic in modern prose.

Origin and form: The adverb is formed from the adjective ancient by the addition of the -ly suffix. The adjective itself descends from Old French ancien and Latin antiquus, and the adverbial form has long been used to mark archaisms or formal diction.

Usage and context: Anciently is most often encountered in translations of classical or biblical texts, or in deliberate stylistic speech that seeks antiquarian flavor. It may appear in chronicles, genealogies, or poetic passages. In everyday modern English, it is rarely used except for effect and is generally replaced by phrases such as “in ancient times” or “formerly.”

See also: Related terms include antiquity, antiquarian, ancient, archaism, and archaic language.