ENGLISH
REFERENCE

antiquities

n. plural-only
C1 Advanced US //ænˈtɪkwətiz// UK //æntˈɪkwɪtiz// an·tiq·ui·ties

n. objects or buildings that come from very ancient times, especially from thousands of years ago. You usually see these in museums or at historical sites.

n. objects, buildings, or works of art belonging to ancient times, particularly the period before the Middle Ages. Often refers to the physical remains of Greek, Roman, or Egyptian civilisations.


SIMPLE

The museum has a famous collection of Greek antiquities.

CONTEXTUAL

The government is working to recover stolen antiquities that were taken from the country during the war.

COMPLEX

Scholars argue that the preservation of local antiquities is essential for maintaining a community's cultural identity against the pressures of modern global development.

Synonyms
Usage

Pluralia tantum in the sense of physical objects; takes a plural verb. The singular form 'antiquity' is used for the abstract concept of ancient times.

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