antiquary

English

Alternative forms

• antiquitary

Etymology

From Latin antīquārius (“pertaining to antiquity, one fond of or employed in antiquities”), from antīquus (“ancient”) + -ārius; equivalent to antique +‎ -ary.

Noun

antiquary (plural antiquaries)

1. A person who is knowledgeable of, or who collects antiques (especially one holding an official position); an antiquarian.
2. An aficionado or student of antiquities, ancient artifacts, historic sites, ancient writings, or things of the past.
   • 1831, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], chapter XX, in Romance and Reality. […], volume II, London: Henry Colburn and Richard Bentley, […], →OCLC, page 306:

     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.

Derived terms

• antiquarian, antiquarianism, antiquarianist
• antiquarism
• antiquarist

Related terms

• ancient
• antic
• antiquariat
• antiquated
• antique
• antiquity

Translations

a person who is knowledgeable of, or who collects antiques; an antiquarian

Chinese: Mandarin: 古董商 (gǔdǒngshāng) Danish: antikvar c Esperanto: antikvisto German: Antiquar (de) m, Antiquarin (de) f Greek: αρχαιοδίφης (el) m (archaiodífis) Hungarian: régiségbúvár (hu), régiséggyűjtő (hu) Ido: antiquajisto (io) Macedonian: антиква́р m (antikvár) Polish: antykwariusz (pl) m, antykwarz (pl) m (dated), archaista (pl) m (dated) Portuguese: antiquário (pt) Russian: антиква́р (ru) m (antikvár) Spanish: anticuario (es) m Swedish: antikvarie (sv) c Ukrainian: антиква́р (uk) m (antykvár)

Adjective

antiquary (not comparable)

1. Relating to antiquity.
   • c. 1602, 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]:

     Instructed by the antiquary times.