Liberal Dictionary English Dictionary
noun, plural an·tiq·ui·ties.
- the quality of being ancient; ancientness: a bowl of great antiquity.
- ancient times; former ages: the splendor of antiquity.
- the period of history before the Middle Ages.
- the peoples, nations, tribes, or cultures of ancient times.
- Usually antiquities. something belonging to or remaining from ancient times, as monuments, relics, or customs.
noun plural -ties
- the quality of being ancient or very olda vase of great antiquity
- the far distant past, esp the time preceding the Middle Ages in Europe
- the people of ancient times collectively; the ancients
late 14c., “olden times,” from Old French antiquitet (11c.; Modern French antiquité) “olden times; great age; old age,” from Latin antiquitatem (nominative antiquitas) “ancient times, antiquity, venerableness,” noun of quality from antiquus (see antique (adj.)). Specific reference to ancient Greece and Rome is from mid-15c.; meaning “quality of being old” is from about the same time. Antiquities “relics of ancient days” is from 1510s.