Antiquity: meaning, definitions and examples

Add to dictionary

antiquity

 

[ ænˈtɪkwəti ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

in history

The ancient past, especially the period of history before the Middle Ages.

Synonyms

ancient times, bygone era, olden days

Examples of usage

  • The statue dates back to antiquity.
  • Scholars study the art of antiquity to learn more about ancient civilizations.
Context #2 | Noun

archeology

The quality of being ancient; ancientness.

Synonyms

age, ancientness, oldness

Examples of usage

  • The archaeologists were fascinated by the antiquity of the artifacts.

Translations

Translations of the word "antiquity" in other languages:

🇵🇹 antiguidade

🇮🇳 प्राचीनता

🇩🇪 Antike

🇮🇩 zaman kuno

🇺🇦 античність

🇵🇱 antyk

🇯🇵 古代

🇫🇷 antiquité

🇪🇸 antigüedad

🇹🇷 antik çağ

🇰🇷 고대

🇸🇦 العصور القديمة

🇨🇿 antika

🇸🇰 antika

🇨🇳 古代

🇸🇮 starina

🇮🇸 forntími

🇰🇿 ежелгі заман

🇬🇪 ანტიკურობა

🇦🇿 qədimlik

🇲🇽 antigüedad

Etymology

The word 'antiquity' comes from the Latin word 'antiquitas', which means 'ancient times' or 'ancient quality'. It has been used in English since the 14th century to refer to the ancient past or the quality of being ancient. The concept of antiquity has been a subject of fascination for historians, archaeologists, and scholars, as it provides insights into the origins and development of human civilization.

See also: antiquated, antiques, antiquities.

Word Frequency Rank

At #7,102 in frequency, this word belongs to advanced vocabulary. It's less common than core vocabulary but important for sophisticated expression.