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.
9.
the antique style, usually Greek or Roman, esp. in art.
10.
Printing. a style of type.
–verb (used with object)
11.
to make or finish (something, esp. furniture) in imitation of antiques.
12.
to emboss (an image, design, letters, or the like) on paper or fabric.
–verb (used without object)
13.
to shop for or collect antiques: She spent her vacation antiquing in Boston.
[Origin: 1520–30; earlier also anticke (< MF antique) < L antīiquus, antīicus in front, existing earler, ancient; cf. antic posticum]
—Related forms
an·tique·ly, adverb
an·tique·ness, noun
—Synonyms 1. bygone, archaic. 2. old, obsolete, obsolescent. See ancient1.
Belonging to, made in, or typical of an earlier period. See Synonyms at old.
Of or belonging to ancient times, especially of, from, or characteristic of ancient Greece or Rome.
Of or dealing in antiques.
Old-fashioned: wore a suit of rather antique appearance.
n.
An object having special value because of its age, especially a domestic item or piece of furniture or handicraft esteemed for its artistry, beauty, or period of origin.
The style or manner of ancient times, especially that of ancient Greek or Roman art: an admirer of the antique.
v.
an·tiqued, an·tiqu·ing, an·tiques
v.
tr.
To give the appearance of an antique to: antiqued an oak chest.
v.
intr.
To hunt or shop for antiques.
[French, from Latin antīquus; see ant- in Indo-European roots.]
1536, from M.Fr. antique, from L. antiquus "former, ancient," from PIE *anti in sense of "before" (locative singular of *ant- "front, forehead") + *okw- "appearance." The noun meaning "an old and collectible thing" is from 1771; the verb meaning "to give an antique appearance to" is from 1923. Originally pronounced in Eng. like its parallel antic, but Fr. pronunciation was eventually adopted. Antiquity "olden times" is from c.1380. Antiquated in the sense of "obsolete" is from 1623.
An"cient\, a. [OE. auncien, F. ancien, LL. antianus, fr. L. ante before. See Ante-, pref.]1. Old; that happened or existed in former times, usually at a great distance of time; belonging to times long past; specifically applied to the times before the fall of the Roman empire; -- opposed to modern; as, ancient authors, literature, history; ancient days. Witness those ancient empires of the earth. --Milton. Gildas Albanius . . . much ancienter than his namesake surnamed the Wise. --Fuller. 2. Old; that has been of long duration; of long standing; of great age; as, an ancient forest; an ancient castle. "Our ancient bickerings." --Shak. Remove not the ancient landmarks, which thy fathers have set. --Prov. xxii. 28. An ancient man, strangely habited, asked for quarters. --Scott. 3. Known for a long time, or from early times; -- opposed to recent or new; as, the ancient continent. A friend, perhaps, or an ancient acquaintance. --Barrow. 4. Dignified, like an aged man; magisterial; venerable. [Archaic] He wrought but some few hours of the day, and then would he seem very grave and ancient. --Holland. 5. Experienced; versed. [Obs.] Though [he] was the youngest brother, yet he was the most ancient in the business of the realm. --Berners. 6. Former; sometime. [Obs.] They mourned their ancient leader lost. --Pope. Ancient demesne (Eng. Law), a tenure by which all manors belonging to the crown, in the reign of William the Conqueror, were held. The numbers, names, etc., of these were all entered in a book called Domesday Book. Ancient lights (Law), windows and other openings which have been enjoined without molestation for more than twenty years. In England, and in some of the United States, they acquire a prescriptive right. Syn: Old; primitive; pristine; antique; antiquated; old-fashioned; obsolete. Usage: Ancient, Antiquated, Obsolete, Antique, Antic, Old. -- Ancient is opposed to modern, and has antiquity; as, an ancient family, ancient landmarks, ancient institutions, systems of thought, etc. Antiquated describes that which has gone out of use or fashion; as, antiquated furniture, antiquated laws, rules, etc. Obsolete is commonly used, instead of antiquated, in reference to language, customs, etc.; as, an obsolete word or phrase, an obsolete expression. Antique is applied, in present usage, either to that which has come down from the ancients; as, an antique cameo, bust, etc.; or to that which is made to imitate some ancient work of art; as, an antique temple. In the days of Shakespeare, antique was often used for ancient; as, "an antique song," "an antique Roman;" and hence, from singularity often attached to what is ancient, it was used in the sense of grotesque; as, "an oak whose antique root peeps out; " and hence came our present word antic, denoting grotesque or ridiculous. We usually apply both ancient and old to things subject to gradual decay. We say, an old man, an ancient record; but never, the old stars, an old river or mountain. In general, however, ancient is opposed to modern, and old to new, fresh, or recent. When we speak of a thing that existed formerly, which has ceased to exist, we commonly use ancient; as, ancient republics, ancient heroes; and not old republics, old heroes. But when the thing which began or existed in former times is still in existence, we use either ancient or old; as, ancient statues or paintings, or old statues or paintings; ancient authors, or old authors, meaning books.
An"tic\, a. [The same word as antique; cf. It. antico ancient. See Antique.]1. Old; antique. (Zo["o]l.) "Lords of antic fame." --Phaer. 2. Odd; fantastic; fanciful; grotesque; ludicrous. The antic postures of a merry-andrew. --Addison. The Saxons . . . worshiped many idols, barbarous in name, some monstrous, all antic for shape. --Fuller.
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