Old World

¹

[ohld wurld]

noun

1. Europe, Asia, and Africa, especially when regarded collectively as the inhabited landmasses of the world known to Europe prior to its discovery of the Americas.

2. Eastern Hemisphere.

old-world

²

[ohld-wurld]

adjective

1. of or relating to the ancient world or to a former period of history.

2. of or relating to the Old World.

   old-world customs.

3. characteristic of the Old World; quaint; traditional.

Old World

¹

noun

1. that part of the world that was known before the discovery of the Americas, comprising Europe, Asia, and Africa; the eastern hemisphere

old-world

²

adjective

1. of or characteristic of former times, esp, in Europe, quaint or traditional

Old World

1. The Eastern Hemisphere, especially Europe, as opposed to the New World — the Americas.

Other Word Forms

• old-worldly adverb
• old-worldliness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of Old World¹

First recorded in 1590–1600

Origin of Old World²

First recorded in 1705–15

Example Sentences

The Old World is never old until it’s gone, but in “Train Dreams” one feels it passing.

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There’s an obvious appeal: Smoked to a deep mahogany color using Old World techniques the company’s founder carried with him as an immigrant from Poland, this is a turkey you don’t have to roast.

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The Aztec emperor Montezuma, one could say, was dethroned not so much by Cortés as by Old World germs and New World enemies.

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That Stanfa was Old World made him not only an outsider resented by the likes of Merlino, but one who operated on a different level of ruthlessness.

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On Nov. 9 at around 5 p.m., this tradition continues in Huntington Beach’s Old World Village.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• antiquated 
• archaic 
• charming 
• curious 
• cute 
• fanciful 
• picturesque 
• twee 
• whimsical