Origin and history of -ant

late 14c., auncyen, of persons, "very old;" c. 1400, of things, "having lasted from a remote period," from Old French ancien "old, long-standing, ancient," from Vulgar Latin *anteanus, literally "from before," adjectivization of Latin ante "before, in front of, against" (from PIE *anti "against," locative singular of root *ant- "front, forehead").

From early 15c. as "existing or occurring in times long past." Specifically, in history, "belonging to the period before the fall of the Western Roman Empire" (c. 1600, contrasted with medieval and modern). In English law, "from before the Norman Conquest."

As a noun, "very old person," late 14c.; "one who lived in former ages," 1530s. Ancient of Days "supreme being" is from Daniel vii.9. Related: Anciently.

*

The unetymological -t dates from 15c. and probably is from confusion with or by influence of words in -ent, -ant (suffix of nouns formed from present participles of verbs in first Latin conjugation).

The same process affected cormorant, parchment, pageant, peasant (in French), pheasant, tyrant (in French), also talaunt, former Middle English variant of talon, etc.and perhaps also currant, truant, pennant, allowing them to "simulate Latin endings to which, etymologically, they have no right." [Fitzedward Hall, "Modern English," 1873]

"pigment, coloring material," 1884, from French colorant; see color + -ant.