nounnounadjective

l’antique

antique

Objet très ancien, souvent précieux, qui vient d’une époque passée.

Word: antique

Language: French


Meaning in English

The French word "antique" can function both as an adjective and a noun.


As an adjective:

Meaning:

  • "Antique" describes something old, ancient, or belonging to a very distant past.
  • It often refers to objects (like furniture, art, or artifacts) that are old and usually valued for their age, beauty, or historical significance.

Example:

  • "un meuble antique" = an antique piece of furniture
  • "une statue antique" = an ancient statue

As a noun:

Meaning:

  • "Antique" refers to an object from ancient times or an old collectible item, especially those considered valuable due to age or rarity.
  • Common in contexts related to art, collectibles, and history.

Word parts

  • Origin: From Latin antiquus, meaning "ancient" or "old".
  • The word retains similar meanings in both French and English.

Synonyms

  • ancien (old, former)
  • vieux (old)
  • vintage (for more recent "old" things, but sometimes overlapping)

Antonyms

  • moderne (modern)
  • neuf (new)
  • récent (recent)

Summary

"Antique" in French relates to age and historical value, describing or naming objects, art, or furniture that are old or ancient. It implies rarity and often aesthetic or historical importance, similar to how the word is used in English.

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Examples

Ma mère achète une chaise antique.adjective

My mother is buying an antique chair.

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