Antiquity
/ænˈtɪkwəti/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounThe ancient past, especially the time of Greece and Rome.
Extra definitions
nounAncient times, especially before the Middle Ages.
nounThe distant past.
nounAn object or building from ancient times.
Sentence Examples
The temple dates from antiquity.
Historians study trade in antiquity.
The museum displays a statue from antiquity.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms:
None
Antonyms:
None
Word Origin & History
From Middle English antiquyte, antiquite, antiquytee, a borrowing from Old French antiquité, antiquitet, from Latin antiquitas, from antiquus. Equivalent to antique + -ity. See antique, antic. Compare with French antiquité.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
“That such pillars were raised by Seth all antiquity has avowed.”
— 1614, Walter Ralegh [i.e., Walter Raleigh], The Historie of the World […], London: […] William Stansby for Walter Burre, […], →OCLC, (please specify |book=1 to 5):
“You are a shrewd antiquity, neighbor Clench.”
— 1633 (first performance), Ben Jonson, “A Tale of a Tub. A Comedy […]”, in The Works of Beniamin Jonson, […] (Third Folio), London: […] Thomas Hodgkin, for H[enry] Herringman, E. Brewster, T. Bassett, R[ichard] Chiswell, M. Wotton, G. Conyers, published 1692, →OCLC, (please specify the act number in uppercase Roman numerals, and the scene number in lowercase Roman numerals):
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CEFR Practice Quiz
The temple dates from ____.