ng, or which existed long ago.
_Ancient_, from the Latin, through the French, is the more stately,
_old_, from the Saxon, the more familiar word. Familiarity, on one side,
is near to contempt; thus we say, an _old_ coat, an _old_ hat. On the
other hand, familiarity is akin to tenderness, and thus _old_ is a word
of endearment; as, "the _old_ homestead," the "_old_ oaken bucket."
"Tell me the _old, old_ story!" has been sung feelingly by millions;
"tell me that _ancient_ story" would remove it out of all touch of human
sympathy. _Olden_ is a statelier form of _old_, and is applied almost
exclusively to time, not to places, buildings, persons, etc. As regards
periods of time, the familiar are also the near; thus, the _old_ times
are not too far away for familiar thought and reference; the _olden_
times are more remote, _ancient_ times still further removed. _Gray_,
_hoary_, and _moldering_ refer to outward and visible tokens of age.
_Aged_ applies chiefly to long-extended human life. _Decrepit_, _gray_,
and _hoary_ refer to the effects of age on the body exclusively;
_senile_ upon the mind also; as, a _decrepit_ frame, _senile_
garrulousness. One may be _aged_ and neither _decrepit_ nor _senile_.
_Elderly_ is applied to those who have passed middle life, but scarcely
reached _old_ age. _Remote_ (L. _re_, back or away, and _moveo_, move),
primarily refers to space, but is extended to that which is far off in
time; as, at some _remote_ period. _Venerable_ expresses the involuntary
reverence that we yield to the majestic and long-enduring, whether in
the material world or in human life and character. Compare ANTIQUE;
OBSOLETE; PRIMEVAL.

Antonyms:

Compare synonyms for NEW; YOUTHFUL.

* * * * *

OPERATION.

Synonyms:

action, effect, force, performance, result.
agency, execution, influence, procedure,

_Operation_ is _action_ considered with reference to the thing acted
upon, and may apply to the _action_ of an intelligent agent or of a
material substance or _force_; as, the _operation_ of a medicine.
_Performance_ and _execution_ denote intelligent _action_, considered
with reference to the actor or to that which he accomplishes;
_performance_ accomplishing the will of the actor, _execution_ often the
will of another; we speak of the _performance_ of a duty, the
_execution_ of a sentence. Compare ACT.

Antonyms:

failure, ineffectiveness, inutility, powe