This is the 555th most frequent French word.
ancien
"Ancien" means "former" or "ancient," depending on context.
Here, 'ancien' is used to describe something very old or from the distant past.
Cet objet ancien est précieux pour la famille.
This ancient object is precious to the family.
In this context, 'ancien' denotes someone who previously held a role or position, emphasizing a previous state.
Lui, c'est un ancien soldat.
He is a former soldier.
In this sentence, 'ancien' means 'former' and refers to a past association or affiliation with something.