archaic
See also: archaïc
archaic - English
Alternative forms
Pronunciation
- (UK) IPA: /ɑː.ˈkeɪ.ɪk/
- (US) IPA: /ɑɹ.ˈkeɪ.ɪk/
- (General Australian) IPA: /ɐːˈkæɪ.ɪk/
Noun
archaic (plural archaics)
- (archaeology, US, usually capitalized) A general term for the prehistoric period intermediate between the earliest period (‘Paleo-Indian’, ‘Paleo-American’, ‘American‐paleolithic’, &c.) of human presence in the Western Hemisphere, and the most recent prehistoric period (‘Woodland’, etc.).
- (paleoanthropology) (A member of) an archaic variety of Homo sapiens.
Adjective
archaic (comparative more archaic, superlative most archaic)
- Of or characterized by antiquity; old-fashioned, quaint, antiquated.
- (of words) No longer in ordinary use, though still used occasionally to give a sense of antiquity and are still likely to be understood by well-educated speakers and are found in historical texts.
- (archaeology) Belonging to the archaic period
Synonyms
- (old-fashioned): dated, obsolete, old fashioned; see also obsolete
Derived terms
Related terms
- archaeologist, archeologist
- archaeology, archeology
- paleo, Paleo-indian, Paleolithic
- paleoethnobotany ("paleobotany", "archeobotany", etc.)
- (archeology) horizon, stage
- (anthropology) culture
- archeobacteria
Translations
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