Antiquity

Antiquity - (Webster's 1828 Dictionary)

ANTIQ'UITY, n. [L. antiquitas.]

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.