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antediluvian

 - 7 dictionary results

an⋅te⋅di⋅lu⋅vi⋅an

[an-tee-di-loo-vee-uhn]
–adjective
1. of or belonging to the period before the Flood. Gen. 7, 8.
2. very old, old-fashioned, or out of date; antiquated; primitive: antediluvian ideas.
–noun
3. a person who lived before the Flood.
4. a very old or old-fashioned person or thing.

Origin:
1640–50; ante- + L dīluvi(um) a flood, deluge + -an
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To antediluvian
an·te·di·lu·vi·an   (ān'tĭ-də-lōō'vē-ən)   
adj.  
  1. Extremely old and antiquated. See Synonyms at old.

  2. Bible Occurring or belonging to the era before the Flood.


[From ante- + Latin dīluvium, flood; see diluvial.]
an'te·di·lu'vi·an n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Main Entry:  antediluvian1
Part of Speech:  adj
Definition:  before the Flood (in the Bible); pertaining to the time before the Flood
Etymology:  ante- + diluvium 'the deluge'
Main Entry:  antediluvian1
Part of Speech:  n
Definition:  a very old person
Etymology:  ante- + diluvium 'the deluge'
Main Entry:  antediluvian2
Part of Speech:  adj
Definition:  antiquated; from a much earlier time
Etymology:  ante- + diluvium 'the deluge'
Main Entry:  antediluvian2
Part of Speech:  n
Definition:  a person who lived before the Flood
Etymology:  ante- + diluvium 'the deluge'
Dictionary.com's 21st Century Lexicon
Copyright © 2003-2009 Dictionary.com, LLC
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Word Origin & History

antediluvian 
"before Noah's flood," 1646, formed from L. ante- "before" (see ante) + diluvium "a flood" (see deluge). Coined by Eng. physician Sir Thomas Browne (1605-82).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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