WordWeight : Weighing the Words

Pronunciation : An*tiq"ui*ty
Part of Speech : n.; pl. Antiquities.
Etymology : [L. antiquitas, fr. antiquus: cf. F. antiquit?. See Antique.]
Definition : 1. The quality of being ancient; ancientness; great age; as, a statue of remarkable antiquity; a family of great antiquity.

2. Old age. [Obs.] It not your voice broken . . . and every part about you blasted with antiquity Shak.

3. Ancient times; former ages; times long since past; as, Cicero was an eloquent orator of antiquity.

4. The ancients; the people of ancient times. That such pillars were raised by Seth all antiquity has Sir W. Raleigh.

5. An old gentleman. [Obs.] You are a shrewd antiquity, neighbor Clench. B. Jonson.

6. A relic or monument of ancient times; as, a coin, a statue, etc. ; an ancient institution.

Note: [In this sense, usually in the plural.] "Heathen antiquities." Bacon.


Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913