antiquity

1 the historic period preceding the Middle Ages in Europe

2 extreme oldness [syn: ancientness]

3 an artifact surviving from the past

English

Etymology

Latin antiquitas, from antiquus: compare with French antiquité. See Antique.

Pronunciation

IPA: WEAE /ænˈtɪk.kwʌ.ti/

Noun

1. Ancient times; former ages; times long since past

   Cicero was an eloquent orator of antiquity.

2. The ancients; the people of ancient times.

   That such pillars were raised by Seth all antiquity has avowed. --Sir W. Raleigh.

3. An old gentleman.

   You are a shrewd antiquity, neighbor Clench. --B. Jonson.

4. (often constructed as an uncountable plural) A relic or monument of ancient times; as, a coin, a statue, etc.; an ancient institution.

Translations

Antiquity may refer to:

• Generally, "ancient history," and may be used of any historical period before the Middle Ages.
  • More specifically it means the classical antiquity of Greece and Rome.
  • It may also be used to refer to various periods of ancient history, like Ancient Egypt, ancient Mesopotamia (such as, Assyria, Babylonia and Sumer) or other early civilizations of the Near East. It is less commonly used in reference to civilizations of the Far East.
• The term, almost always in the plural in modern usage, is also used of Antiquities, or archaeological or other objects surviving from ancient cultures.
• Antiquity is a quarterly journal of archaeological research.
• Antiquities an expansion to the Magic: The Gathering collectible card game.

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