Origin: Greek prefix anti-
Antique has 12 different meanings across 4 categories:
Noun · Verb · Adjective · Proper Noun
an elderly man
"The antique clockmaker fixed my grandfather's watch, but he was more interested in listening to stories about his own youth."
any piece of furniture or decorative object or the like produced in a former period and valuable because of its beauty or rarity
"She carefully wrapped the antique vase, knowing its delicate blue glaze made it incredibly rare and precious."
In general, anything very old; specifically:
"She carefully dusted the antique clock that had been sitting in her grandfather's study for over a century."
An old object perceived as having value because of its aesthetic or historical significance.
"She spent her entire bonus buying a rare antique vase that she believed was worth far more than the asking price due to its unique craftsmanship from the 18th century."
In plain English: An antique is an old item that is usually valuable because of its age and history.
"She bought an antique vase at the flea market."
Usage: Use "antique" to describe an object that is at least 100 years old and possesses historical or aesthetic value. Do not use it for items that are simply old but lack significance or do not meet the age requirement.
To search or shop for antiques.
"We spent the entire weekend antique-ing at the local flea market to find a vintage lamp."
In plain English: To antique something means to make it look old and worn on purpose.
"She likes to antique her old furniture by adding fake scratches and paint."
Usage: Do not use the verb "antique" to mean searching for old items; instead, use its correct meaning to describe making something look older than it really is. For example, you might say the artist antiqued the vase by applying a dark patina, but never that you are going to antique an estate sale.
made in or typical of earlier times and valued for its age
"the beautiful antique French furniture"
Having existed in ancient times, descended from antiquity; used especially in reference to Greece and Rome.
"The curator spent hours examining the antique Greek vase, marveling at how its intricate designs had survived for two millennia."
In plain English: Antique means something that is very old and usually considered valuable because of its age.
"My grandmother has an antique clock in her living room."
Usage: Use "antique" as an adjective to describe objects that are at least 100 years old and valued for their age rather than just being very old. Do not use it to mean something is merely ancient or from history without implying current collectible value.
A province of the Philippines.
"During our family reunion, everyone gathered at my great-uncle's old house in Antique to share stories about his time working on sugar plantations there."
The word "antique" entered English from the French term antique, which originally meant "ancient" or "old." This French word traces back to the Latin antiquus, derived from a root meaning "before," reflecting its sense of something that existed in earlier times.