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Antiquity - Dictionary Definition and Overview |
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Antiquity : (noun)
1: the historic period preceding the Middle Ages in Europe
2: extreme oldness [syn: ancientness]
3: an artifact surviving from the past
Based on WordNet 2.0
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Antiquity : \An*tiq"ui*ty\, n.; pl. Antiquities. [L. antiquitas,
fr. antiquus: cf. F. antiquit['e]. See Antique.]
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 ?vowed. --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.
Based on WordNet (r) 2.0 (August 2003)
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