Meanings
plural antiquaries · alternative antiquitary
- A person who is knowledgeable of, or who collects antiques (especially one holding an official position); an antiquarian.
- An aficionado or student of antiquities, ancient artifacts, historic sites, ancient writings, or relics of the past.
The sound of the bubbling water grew more distinct, as the ear became accustomed to its music: it reminded him of one very like it in Etheringhame Park. Both might have made the delight of either antiquary or poet.
1831, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], chapter XX, in Romance and Reality. […], volume II, London: Henry Colburn and Richard Bentley, […], →OCLC, page 306
alternative antiquitary
- not comparableRelating to antiquity.
Instructed by the antiquary times.
c. 1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Troylus and Cressida”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene iii]
Synonyms & antonyms
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
- Latinantīquārius“pertaining to antiquity, one fond of or employed in antiquities”
- Englishantiquary
From Latin antīquārius (“pertaining to antiquity, one fond of or employed in antiquities”), from antīquus (“ancient”) + -ārius; equivalent to antique + -ary.
More words from Latin
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Chinese Mandarin 古董商
- 古董商 (gǔdǒngshāng)a person who is knowledgeable of, or who collects antiques; an antiquarian
Danish antikvar
- antikvara person who is knowledgeable of, or who collects antiques; an antiquarian
Esperanto antikvisto
- antikvistoa person who is knowledgeable of, or who collects antiques; an antiquarian
French antiquaire
- antiquairea person who is knowledgeable of, or who collects antiques; an antiquarian
German Antiquar, Antiquarin
- Antiquara person who is knowledgeable of, or who collects antiques; an antiquarian
- Antiquarina person who is knowledgeable of, or who collects antiques; an antiquarian
Greek αρχαιοδίφης
- αρχαιοδίφης (archaiodífis)a person who is knowledgeable of, or who collects antiques; an antiquarian
Hungarian régiségbúvár, régiséggyűjtő
- régiségbúvára person who is knowledgeable of, or who collects antiques; an antiquarian
- régiséggyűjtőa person who is knowledgeable of, or who collects antiques; an antiquarian
Polish antykwariusz, antykwarz
- antykwariusza person who is knowledgeable of, or who collects antiques; an antiquarian
- antykwarza person who is knowledgeable of, or who collects antiques; an antiquarian
- archaistaa person who is knowledgeable of, or who collects antiques; an antiquarian
Portuguese antiquário
- antiquárioa person who is knowledgeable of, or who collects antiques; an antiquarian
Russian антиква́р
- антиква́р (antikvár)a person who is knowledgeable of, or who collects antiques; an antiquarian
Spanish anticuario
- anticuarioa person who is knowledgeable of, or who collects antiques; an antiquarian
Swedish antikvarie
- antikvariea person who is knowledgeable of, or who collects antiques; an antiquarian
Ukrainian антиква́р
- антиква́р (antykvár)a person who is knowledgeable of, or who collects antiques; an antiquarian
Cite this entry
antiquary. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/antiquary
“antiquary.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/antiquary. Accessed November 4, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “antiquary,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/antiquary.
Source: antiquary on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.