The AI-powered English dictionary
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From or relating to a previous era. quotations examples
"You are right to some extent in what you say. In the olden days people had a stronger belief in all kinds of witchery; now they pretend not to believe in it, that they may be looked upon as sensible and educated people, as you say."
1886, Peter Christen Asbjørnsen, translated by H.L. Brækstad, Folk and Fairy Tales, page 156
In olden days, a glimpse of stockings Was looked on as something shocking; Now, heaven knows, Anything goes.
1934, Cole Porter (lyrics and music), “Anything Goes”
(archaic) Old; ancient. quotations
We […] told over the story of past sufferings, and renewed olden vows of devotion.
1857, Martha Griffith Browne, Autobiography of a Female Slave, page 347
third-person singular simple present oldens, present participle oldening, simple past and past participle oldened
(intransitive, old-fashioned or rare) To grow old; age; assume an older appearance or character; become affected by age. quotations
Of all Sedley's opponents in his debates with his creditors which now ensued, and harassed the feelings of the humiliated old gentleman so severely, that in six weeks he oldened more than he had done for fifteen years before—the most determined and obstinate seemed to be John Osborne, his old friend and neighbour […]
1847 January – 1848 July, William Makepeace Thackeray, Vanity Fair […], London: Bradbury and Evans […], published 1848
They were not worldly days; and so, as we olden with our passage through the world, they stay young, and we love them as pure youthful things are loved.
1912, John Ayscough, Saints and Places, page 123