Jump To:

• old-world
  old-world

  adjective

  of or relating to the ancient world or to a former period of history.
• Old World
  Old World

  noun

  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.

old-world

¹ American  

[ohld-wurld] / ˈoʊldˈwɜrld /

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 ² American  

[ohld wurld] / ˈoʊld ˌwɜrld /

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 ¹ British  

adjective

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

---

Old World ² British  

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 Cultural  

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

---

Other Word Forms

• old-worldliness
  noun
• old-worldly
  adjective
• old-worldly
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of old-world¹

First recorded in 1705–15

Origin of Old World²

First recorded in 1590–1600

Example Sentences

It was built in accordance with an old-world design, and in shape resembled an ancient chapter-house.

From The New Girl at St. Chad's A Story of School Life by Brazil, Angela

Related Words

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