/an tik"wi tee/ , n. , pl. antiquities .
1. the quality of being ancient; ancientness: a bowl of great antiquity.
2. ancient times; former ages: the splendor of antiquity.
3. the period of history before the Middle Ages.
4. the peoples, nations, tribes, or cultures of ancient times.
5. Usually, antiquities . something belonging to or remaining from ancient times, as monuments, relics, or customs.
[ 1350-1400; ME antiquite antiquitas, equiv. to antiqu ( us ) old (see ANTIQUE) + -itas -ITY ]