Antiquity refers to ancient times, especially the distant past before the Middle Ages, or the ancient world in general. It encompasses civilizations, artifacts, and periods characterized by their long-standing cultural and historical significance. The term often implies a sense of antiquated or classical age, contrasted with modern eras.
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"- The ruins reveal treasures from antiquity, shedding light on early urban life."
"- Scholars debate the influence of Greek philosophy on antiquity’s legal codes."
"- The artifact’s design fits with the aesthetics of antiquity, despite being found in a medieval site."
"- Collectors prize pieces that evoke antiquity while remaining scientifically documented."
Antiquity comes from Middle English antiquite, borrowed from Old French antiquité, which itself derives from Latin antiquitas, from antiquus meaning ancient, old, or long-standing. The Latin root antiqu- expresses lasting age, often paired with -tas indicating a state or quality. The term in English began to signify the ancient world or a long-ago era by the 14th–15th centuries, initially in scholarly and literary discourse. Through Renaissance humanism, antiquity took on a dual meaning: the boast of antiquarian knowledge and the object of study related to the classics—Greco-Roman art, philosophy, and archaeology. In modern usage, it broadly marks the distant past and schools of thought associated with it, while in archaeology and art history, it designates periods and artifacts considered classical or historical rather than medieval or modern. The word’s semantic trajectory mirrors shifts in scholarly interest: from general “old times” to a cultivated reverence for ancient civilizations and their legacies, particularly those of Greece and Rome, which anchored Western historical self-understanding and curricula well into the 18th–19th centuries and beyond.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "antiquity" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "antiquity"
-ity sounds
Practice with these rhyming pairs to improve your pronunciation consistency:
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Pronounced an-TIH-kwih-tee, with primary stress on the second syllable. IPA US: ænˈtɪkwɪti; UK: ˌænˈtɪkwɪti; AU: ˌænˈtɪkwɪti. Start with a short æ sound, then a sharp Tɪ, followed by kw- and a final -i-ti. Keep the T crisp and avoid linking into -kwih-ty; maintain a clear syllabic break before -ty.
Common errors: (1) Placing primary stress on the first syllable ao as AN-ti-kwih-ty; correct stress is TI- in -tɪ-kwɪ-ty. (2) Merging the -kw- with -i- as kwit, producing anti-kwit; pronounce -kwɪ- as a distinct sequence. (3) Vowel quality in -ti- ending; keep a short i sound rather than a long ee. Practice by saying ‘ant-ih-kwih-tee’ with clear breaks between syllables.
US and UK share the TI-kwɪ- syllable but differ on unstressed vowels and rhotics. US often rhymes the -ty with -tee, while UK maintains a slightly shorter -ɪ- in the middle; AU follows similar patterns to UK but with a more clipped final -ty. In all regions, the primary stress remains on the second syllable: an-TIH-kwih-tee. IPA notes: US ænˈtɪkwɪti, UK ˌænˈtɪkwɪti, AU ˌænˈtɪkwɪti.
Three challenges: the consonant cluster -nt- followed by -i-, which requires separating the nasal and vowel; the -kw- sequence that blends with the following -i, risking a slurred sound; and the multi-syllabic structure that places primary stress on the second syllable, which can tempt speakers to even out or misplace stress. Focus on crisp consonants, a distinct -kw- as a single unit, and proper syllable separation: an-TIH-kwih-tee.
Tip: treat it as a four-syllable word with clear breaks: an-tih-kwih-tee. Emphasize the kick of the -tɪ- and keep the -kw- tightly bound to the following short i. In practice, say it slowly at first: an-tih-kwih-tee, then gradually speed up while maintaining distinct -tɪ- and -kwɪ- sequences.
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