n.
Pronunciation: ' ō ld; for sense 9 usu ' ō l
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from Old English eald; akin to Old High German alt old, Latin alere to nourish, alescere to grow, altus high, deep
Date: before 12th century
1 a : dating from the remote past : ANCIENT < old traditions> b : persisting from an earlier time <an old ailment> <they brought up the same old argument> c : of long standing <an old friend>
2 a : distinguished from an object of the same kind by being of an earlier date <many still used the old name> b capitalized : belonging to an early period in the development of a language or literature < Old Persian>
3 : having existed for a specified period of time <a child three years old >
4 : of, relating to, or originating in a past era < old chronicles record the event>
5 a : advanced in years or age <an old person> b : showing the characteristics of age <looked old at 20>
6 : EXPERIENCED <an old trooper speaking of the last war>
7 : FORMER <his old students>
8 a : showing the effects of time or use : WORN , AGED < old shoes> b : no longer in use : DISCARDED < old rags> c : of a grayish or dusty color < old mauve> d : TIRESOME <gets old fast>
9 a : long familiar <same old story> <good old Joe> b ― used as an intensive <a high old time> c ― used to express an attitude of affection or amusement <a big old dog> <flex the old biceps> <any old time>
synonyms OLD , ANCIENT , VENERABLE , ANTIQUE , ANTIQUATED , ARCHAIC , OBSOLETE mean having come into existence or use in the more or less distant past. OLD may apply to either actual or merely relative length of existence < old houses> <an old sweater of mine>. ANCIENT applies to occurrence, existence, or use in or survival from the distant past < ancient accounts of dragons>. VENERABLE stresses the impressiveness and dignity of great age <the family's venerable patriarch>. ANTIQUE applies to what has come down from a former or ancient time <collected antique Chippendale furniture>. ANTIQUATED implies being discredited or outmoded or otherwise inappropriate to the present time < antiquated teaching methods>. ARCHAIC implies having the character or characteristics of a much earlier time <the play used archaic language to convey a sense of period>. OBSOLETE may apply to something regarded as no longer acceptable or useful even though it is still in existence <a computer that makes earlier models obsolete >.