As a Noun: 1. A period of time beginning in the distant past and coming up to the present; the period from olden times to now. 2. A belief or way of doing things that has existed for a long time without changing. English = tradition, custom. As a Verb or Adjective: 1. To be very old and brought to the present, to come from the distant past to the present. 2. To be some belief or way of doing things that has not changed for a long time. English = (be) traditional, (be) customary.