antiquity

 
Pronunciation: /anˈtɪkwɪti/

noun (plural antiquities)

[mass noun]
  • 1the ancient past, especially the period of classical and other human civilizations before the Middle Ages: the great civilizations of antiquity
  • 2 [count noun] (usually antiquities) an object, building, or work of art from the ancient past: a collection of Islamic antiquities
  • 3great age: a church of great antiquity

Origin:

Middle English: from Old French antiquite, from Latin antiquitas, from antiquus 'old, former' (see antique)