Forms: 4 antiquytee, 4–6 -iquite, 5 -yqwyte, 5–6 -yquyte, -yquytye, -iquitye, 6–7 -itie, 6– -ity. [a. Fr. antiquité, 11th c. antiquitet, ad. L. antīquitāt-em, n. of quality f. antīqu-us: see ANTIQUE and -ITY.]
I. As abstract sb.
1. The quality of being old (in the world’s history) or ancient; long standing, oldness, ancientness.
c. 1450. Court of Love, lxxii. This statute was of old antiquite.
1532. More, Confut. Tindale, Wks. 1557, 707/1. Then be you Jewes of more antiquitie then they.
1687. T. Brown, Saints in Uproar, Wks. I. 73. A rusty spear, and a cloak of antiquity.
1752. Johnson, Rambl., No. 192, ¶ 2. Every Man boasted the antiquity of his family.
1851. D. Wilson, Preh. Ann., II. III. vi. 153. The geological antiquity of man.
† 2. Old age (of human life); seniority. Obs.
1596. Shaks., 2 Hen. IV., I. ii. 208. Is not your voice broken?… and euery part about you blasted with Antiquity.
1618. Bolton, Florus, I. i. 7. Who for their authoritie should be called Fathers, and for their antiquitie, Senators, or Aldermen.
1677. Act in Marvell, Growth Popery, 30. Three … to be placed in such Order as the said Prelates … think fit, without regard to dignity, antiquity, or any other form.
3. Ancient character or style.
1850. T. T. Lynch, Theoph. Trin., ix. 164. There is much novelty without hope, much antiquity without sacredness.
1867. Max Müller, Chips (1880), III. xiii. 248. The air of antiquity which pervades that county [Cornwall].
II. Elliptical senses.
4. The time of antiquity, olden time. a. generally.
c. 1380. Sir Ferumb., 1316. An old for-sake ȝeate; of þe olde antiquytee.
1580. Baret, Alv., A 421. Historie is the reporter of antiquitie, or of things done in olde tyme.
1605. Bacon, Adv. Learn., II. ii. § 7. Antiquity is like fame, caput inter nubila condit, her head is muffled from our sight.
1664. H. More, Myst. Iniq., 473. The errours and Mistakes of dark Antiquity.
1712. Spect., No. 548, ¶ 4. I cannot think of one real hero in all antiquity so far raised above human infirmities.
c. 1854. Stanley, Sinai & Pal., ii. (1858), 119. To what an antiquity does this carry us back! Ruins before the days of those who preceded the Philistines!
b. spec. The period before the middle ages, the time of the ancient Greeks and Romans.
c. 1450. Songs & Poems Costume, 53. Famous poetis of antyquyté, In Grece and Troye.
1594. T. B., La Primaud. Fr. Acad., II. 535. The writings of al antiquity.
a. 1704. T. Brown, Comic. View, Wks. I. 157. Galen and other reverend blockheads of antiquity.
1874. Blackie, Self-Cult., 73. The coolest and most practical thinker of all antiquity … Aristotle.
5. The people (or writers, etc.) of ancient times collectively; ‘the Ancients.’
1538. Starkey, England, iii. 78. Aftur the opynyon of the wyse and auncyent antyquyte.
1598. Barret, Theor. Warres, V. iii. 152. This manner of marching … we reade antiquitie to have vsed.
1641. Milton, Prel. Episc. (1851), 73. That indigested heap, and frie of Authors, which they call Antiquity.
1726. De Foe, Hist. Devil, II. vi. (1840), 246. We have Antiquity on our side, we have this truth confirmed by the testimony of many ages.
1876. Mozley, Univ. Serm., i. 3. We think we have excelled all antiquity. We have excelled a later antiquity, but not the earliest and first.
6. (Now pl. or collect., formerly often sing.) Matters, customs, precedents, or events of earlier times; ancient records.
1557. North, Diall of Princes, A ij b. Paulus Diaconus … sheweth an antiquitie right worthy to remember.
1629. Coke, On Litt., 69 a. Which Antiquity I cite for that it concurreth with the act of Parliament.
1660. Bloome, Archit., Title-page, Gathered with great diligence … out of Antiquities.
1782. Priestley, Corrupt. Chr., I. I. 107. Whiston … was certainly well read in Christian antiquity.
1876. Digby, Real Prop., ii. § 8. 94. The subject belongs entirely to the antiquities of our law.
7. (Now usually pl.; formerly sing. or collect.) Remains or monuments of antiquity; ancient relics.
1513. More, Hist. Edw. V., Ded. 1. The great care … that hath alwaies been observed … for the preservation of antiquities.
1605. Bacon, Adv. Learn., II. ii. § 1. Antiquities are history defaced, or some remnants of history which have casually escaped the shipwreck of time.
1622. Peacham, Compl. Gentl., xii. (1634), 112. I come to the last of our select Antiquities, Coynes.
1676. D’Urfey, Mad. Fickle, III. i. Rust adds to an Antiquity, ’tis our Friend.
1728. Stukeley, in Phil. Trans., XXXV. 430. At Paunton … I have heard of much Antiquity being found, especially, Mosaic Pavements.
1787. T. Jefferson, Writ. (1859), II. 133. The Pont du Gard, a sublime antiquity, and well preserved.
1869. Rawlinson, Anc. Hist., 2. Antiquities, or the actual extant remains of ancient times.
8. Comb. or Attrib., as antiquity-hunting, piece.
1860. W. G. Clark, Vac. Tour (1861), 119. The Bishop of Ossory, who was antiquity-hunting in Sutherland about the same time, found many of them entire.
1711. London Gaz., mmmmdccclv/4. A small Gold Ring, with an Antiquity Piece hanging to it.
