Antique, a.
Etymology: [F., fr. L. antiquus old, ancient, equiv. to anticus, from ante before. Cf. Antic.]
1. Old; ancient; of genuine antiquity; as, an antique statue. In this sense it usually refers to the flourishing ages of Greece and Rome. For the antique world excess and pride did hate. Spenser.
2. Old, as respects the present age, or a modern period of time; of old fashion; antiquated; as, an antique robe. "Antique words." Spenser.
3. Made in imitation of antiquity; as, the antique style of Thomson's "Castle of Indolence."
4. Odd; fantastic. [In this sense, written antic.]
1 more senses
Syn. -- Ancient; antiquated; obsolete; antic; old-fashioned; old. See Ancient.
1 other Webster entry under this spelling
Antique, n.
In general, anything very old; but in a more limited sense, a relic or object of ancient art; collectively, the antique, the remains of ancient art, as busts, statues, paintings, and vases. Misshapen monuments and maimed antiques. Byron.
Shades of meaning
Antique refers to an ancient, antiquated to a discarded style. Antique is that which is either ancient in fact or ancient in style. The reference is to the style rather than to the age. We can speak of the antique architecture of a church just built. The difference between antiquated and antique is not in the age, for a Puritan style may be scorned as antiquated, while a Roman or Renaissance style may be prized as antique. The antiquated is not so much out of date as out of vogue. Old-fashioned may be used approvingly or contemptuously. In the latter case it becomes a synonym for antiquated; in the good sense it approaches the meaning of antique, but indicates less duration. We call a wide New England fireplace old-fashioned; a coin of the Caesars, antique. Quaint combines the idea of age with a pleasing oddity; as, a quaint gambrel-roofed house. Antiquated is sometimes used of persons in a sense akin to superannuated. The antiquated person is out of style and out of sympathy with the present generation by reason of age; the superannuated person is incapacitated for present activities by reason of age. Compare old.