The word "古老" is formed by combining two characters, "古" meaning "ancient" or "old in time", and "老" meaning "old in age" or "venerable". Together, these characters reinforce and amplify the concept of antiquity, creating a compound that emphasizes something as being historically old or age-old, often evoking a sense of timelessness or tradition. This formation relies on the synergistic merging of similar meanings to convey a nuanced idea of enduring ancientness.