antiquarian

[an-ti-kwair-ee-uhn]

adjective

1. pertaining to antiquaries or to the study of antiquities.

2. of, dealing in, or interested in old or rare books.

noun

1. an antiquary.

2. a size of drawing and writing paper, 31 × 53 or 29 × 52 inches.

antiquarian

/ ˌæntɪˈkwɛərɪən /

adjective

1. concerned with the study of antiquities or antiques

noun

1. the largest size of handmade drawing paper, 53 × 31 inches

2. a less common name for antiquary

Other Word Forms

• antiquarianism noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of antiquarian¹

1600–10; < Latin antīquāri ( us ) ( antiquary ) + -an

Example Sentences

Ken Sanders is something of a folk hero in the antiquarian world: a notorious book-thief hunter, founding member of Earth First!

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Vintage cookbooks are a curious subdivision of the thriving antiquarian trade.

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The bookish antiquarians may be held in public affection, but they are not going to stop the Olympics' first ever fluvial overture.

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We have serious readers now, as we had before — and we had the serious antiquarian bookshops for them and for serious collectors.

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In the mid-19th century, a British antiquarian named Sir Thomas Phillipps announced his intention of owning one copy of every book in the world.

Read more on New York Times