Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Antiquity
An-tiq′ui-ty
,Noun.
pl.
Antiquities
. 1.
The quality of being ancient; ancientness; great age;
as, a statue of remarkable
antiquity
; a family of great antiquity
.2.
Old age.
[Obs.]
It not your voice broken? . . . and every part about you blasted with
antiquity
? Shakespeare
3.
Ancient times; former ages; times long since past;
as, Cicero was an eloquent orator of
. antiquity
4.
The ancients; the people of ancient times.
That such pillars were raised by Seth all
antiquity
has [GREEK]vowed. Sir W. Raleigh.
5.
An old gentleman.
[Obs.]
You are a shrewd
antiquity
, neighbor Clench. B. Jonson.
6.
A relic or monument of ancient times; as, a coin, a statue, etc.; an ancient institution.
“Heathen antiquities.” [In this sense, usually in the plural.]
Bacon.
Webster 1828 Edition
Antiquity
ANTIQ'UITY
,Noun.
1.
Ancient times; former ages; times long since past; a very indefinite term; as, Cicero was the most eloquent orator of antiquity.2.
The ancients; the people of ancient times; as, the fact is admitted by all antiquity.Meaning that mankind are inclined to verify the predictions of antiquity.
3.
Ancientness; great age; the quality of being ancient; as, a statue of remarkable antiquity; a family of great antiquity.4.
Old age; a ludicrous sense used by Shak.5.
The remains of ancient times. In this sense it is usually or always plural. Antiquities comprehend all the remains of ancient times; all the monuments, coins, inscriptions, edifices, history and fragments of literature, offices, habiliments, weapons, manners, ceremonies; in short, whatever respects any of the ancient nations of the earth.