antique

[an-teek]

adjective

1. of or belonging to the past; not modern.

   Synonyms: archaic, bygone

2. dating from a period long ago.

   antique furniture.

   Synonyms: obsolescent, obsolete, old

3. noting or pertaining to automobiles approximately 25 years old or more.

4. in the tradition, fashion, or style of an earlier period; old-fashioned; antiquated.

5. of or belonging to the ancient Greeks and Romans.

6. (of paper) neither calendered nor coated and having a rough surface.

7. ancient.

noun

1. any work of art, piece of furniture, decorative object, or the like, created or produced in a former period, or, according to U.S. customs laws, 100 years before date of purchase.

2. the antique style, usually Greek or Roman, especially in art.

3. Printing.,  a style of type.

verb (used with object)

antiqued, antiquing 

1. to make or finish (something, especially furniture) in imitation of antiques.

2. to emboss (an image, design, letters, or the like) on paper or fabric.

verb (used without object)

antiqued, antiquing 

1. to shop for or collect antiques.

   She spent her vacation antiquing in Boston.

antique

/ ænˈtiːk /

noun

1. 1. a decorative object, piece of furniture, or other work of art created in an earlier period, that is collected and valued for its beauty, workmanship, and age

   2. ( as modifier )

      an antique shop

2. any object made in an earlier period

3. the style of ancient art, esp Greek or Roman art, or an example of it

adjective

1. made in or in the style of an earlier period

2. of or belonging to the distant past, esp of or in the style of ancient Greece or Rome

3. informal,  old-fashioned; out-of-date

4. archaic,  aged or venerable

5. (of paper) not calendered or coated; having a rough surface

verb

1. (tr) to give an antique appearance to

Other Word Forms

• antiquely adverb
• antiqueness noun
• pseudoantique adjective
• quasi-antique adjective
• subantique adjective
• subantiquely adverb
• subantiqueness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of antique¹

1520–30; earlier also anticke (< Middle French antique ) < Latin antīiquus, antīicus in front, existing earler, ancient; antic, posticum

Word History and Origins

Origin of antique¹

C16: from Latin antīquus ancient, from ante before

Synonym Study

See ancient ¹.

Example Sentences

The light from the television offers enough visibility for me to see the stacks of boxes, the old sports equipment, and the antique furniture that is stored in the Choi basement.

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Frowning, he gave the antique crib a sharp push.

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She marched to the front parlor, where Lady Constance’s personal stationery was kept in an antique writing desk worth more than a whole fleet of governesses could earn in a year.

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The boys had already taken their baths; at the moment they were busy adding pictures of antique Grecian helmets, weaponry, and naval vessels to their journals.

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It also offered horseback riding along the resort’s dirt trails, swimming in a huge outdoor pool, clay tennis courts, casino gambling, an antiques shop, and even a movie theater for the guests.

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Related Words

• antiquity 
• artifact 
• heirloom 
• relic