Lewis & Short

antīquĭtas, ātis, f. [antiquus], the quality of being antiquus, age, antiquity (class., but only in prose).

  1. I. In gen.: antiquitas generis, Cic. Font. 14, 31; so Nep. Milt. 1, 1: non vestra (urbs) haec est, quae gloriabatur a diebus pristinis in antiquitate suā? Vulg. Isa. 23, 7.
  2. II. Spec., ancient time, antiquity.
    1. A. Lit.: fabulae ab ultimā antiquitate repetitae, Cic. Fin. 1, 20, 65: habet ut in aetatibus auctoritatem senectus, sic in exemplis antiquitas, id. Or. 50, 169: antiquitas dat dignitatem verbis, Quint. 8, 3, 24; Suet. Ner. 38 al.
    2. B. Meton.
      1. 1. The occurrences of antiquity, the history of ancient times, antiquity: tenenda est omnis antiquitas, Cic. de Or. 1, 5, 18: memoria antiquitatis, id. Brut. 59, 214: antiquitatis iter, id. de Or. 1, 60, 256 al.: antiquitatis amator, Nep. Att. 18, 1 Bremi and Dähne; cf. id. ib. 20 al.
        In plur., a title of historical or archœological works, antiquities; cf. Plin. praef.; Gell. 5, 13: Varro in antiquitatibus rerum humanarum scripsit, etc., id. 11, 1 et saep.
      2. 2. Men of former times, the ancients: errabat multis in rebus antiquitas, Cic. Div. 2, 33; cf. Hand, Wopk. Lectt. Tull. p. 209; Cic. Leg. 2, 11, 27: antiquitas melius ea, quae erant vera, cernebat, id. Tusc. 1, 12, 26: fabulose narravit antiquitas, Plin. 12, 19, 42, § 85; 19, 4, 19, § 1 al.
      3. 3. The condition or state of former times (eccl. Lat.): Et soror tua Sodoma et filiae ejus revertentur ad antiquitatem suam, Vulg. Ezech. 16, 55 ter.
  3. II. Esp., with the access. idea of moral excellence (cf. antiquus, II. C.), the good old times, the honesty of the good old times, integrity, uprightness, etc.: P. Rutilius documentum fuit virtutis, antiquitatis, prudentiae, Cic. Rab. Post. 10: his gravissimae antiquitatis viris probatus, id. Sest. 3: haec plena sunt antiquitatis, id. Planc. 18, 45; Sall. H. Fragm. ap. Serv. ad Verg. G. 2, 209: exemplar antiquitatis, Plin. Ep. 5, 15, 1.