antique means having existed in ancient times, descended from antiquity; used especially in reference to Greece and Rome. It carries an Arena rating of 1514, earned across 2 head-to-head judged battles.
Among words judged in Lexicurio's Arena, antique ranks #2,070 of 17,126 for Most Elegant Words, #3,475 of 17,134 for Most Malleable Words, #5,159 of 17,127 for Most Vivid Words, #6,197 of 17,104 for Most Storied Words.
antique is pronounced /ˌanˈtiːk/.
Why “antique” is a great word
An object, style, or concept that is old and valued for its age, aesthetic, or historical significance. From French antique ('ancient, old'), from Latin antiquus ('former, earlier, ancient, old'), from ante ('before'), first attested in English in the 1530s. Unlike 'ancient,' which evokes the monumental remoteness of foundational civilizations, or 'obsolete,' which denotes a cold, functional expiry, 'antique' carries the warmth of aged preservation. It is the honeyed patina on a Georgian desk, the particular green of oxidized copper on a weathervane, and the faint, rhythmic tick of a mantel clock in a still room—objects that linger in the light, burnished by time, chosen to become quiet, enduring conversations between a finished past and a curious present.
Etymology
Borrowed from French antique (“ancient, old”), from Latin antiquus (“former, earlier, ancient, old”), from ante (“before”); see ante-. Doublet of antic.
adj
- Having existed in ancient times, descended from antiquity; used especially in reference to Greece and Rome.
- Belonging to former times, not modern, out of date, old-fashioned.
- Designating a style of type.
- Embossed without gilt.
- Synonym of old (“of color: subdued, as if faded over time”).
- Synonym of antic, specifically
- Synonym of antic, specifically:; Fantastic, odd, wild, antic.
name
- A province of Western Visayas, Visayas, Philippines. Capital: San Jose de Buenavista.
noun
- In general, anything very old; specifically:; An old object perceived as having value because of its aesthetic or historical significance.
- In general, anything very old; specifically:; An object of ancient times.
- In general, anything very old; specifically:; The style or manner of ancient times, used especially of Greek and Roman art.
- In general, anything very old; specifically:; An old person.
- In general, anything very old; specifically:; A man of ancient times.e.g.“They supposed that they had seene those most beutyfull Dryades, or the natyue nymphes or fayres of the fountaynes whereof the antiques spake so muche.” — 1577, Richarde Eden, Richarde Willes, The History of Trauayle in the VVest and East Indies, and other countreys lying eyther way, towardes the fruitfull and ryche Moluccaes: […], London: Richarde Iugg
- A style of type of thick and bold face in which all lines are of equal or nearly equal thickness.
- Synonym of antic, specifically:; Grotesque entertainment; an antic.e.g.“[…] I do implore secretie, that the King would haue me present the Princesse (sweete chuck) with some delightfull ostentation, or show, or pageant, or antique, or fierworke : […]” — c. 1595–1596 (date written), W. Shakespere [i.e., William Shakespeare], A Pleasant Conceited Comedie Called, Loues Labors Lost. […] (First Quarto), London: […] W[illiam] W[hite] for Cut[h]bert Burby,
- Synonym of antic, specifically:; A performer in an antic; or in general, a burlesque performer, a buffoon.
verb
- To search or shop for antiques.e.g.“Once our daughter-in-love, Janis, went antiquing with us because she and our firstborn, Matthew, were in the market for some bedroom furniture.” — 1999, Ron McAdoo, Caryl McAdoo, Antiquing in North Texas, page 103:
- To make (an object) appear to be an antique in some way.
- To emboss without gilding.
Definitions & examples from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 3.0).
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