antiqua - Meaning, Image, Examples & Etymology - Learn English Visually

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antiqua

|an-ti-qua|

/ænˈtɪkwə/

old → Roman/serif type

Etymology

Etymology Information

'antiqua' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'antiqua', the feminine form of 'antiquus', where 'antiquus' meant 'old' or 'ancient'.

Historical Evolution

'antiqua' passed from Classical Latin into Medieval Latin and later entered German typographical usage as 'Antiqua' to denote roman (serif) type; this typographic sense was subsequently adopted into English as 'antiqua'.

Meaning Changes

Initially it meant 'old' or 'ancient' in Latin; over time it evolved into a technical term for a style of typeface (Roman/serif) in modern typographic usage.

Meanings by Part of Speech

Noun 1

a style of typeface (roman/serif) used in contrast to blackletter (Fraktur); especially used in German typographic terminology to denote roman type.

The book was set in antiqua rather than in blackletter.

Synonyms

Roman typeroman typefaceserif typefaceroman

Antonyms

blackletter Fraktur

Adjective 1

(rare, from Latin) Feminine form of 'antiquus', meaning ancient or old; occasionally encountered in Latin phrases or historical contexts.

In some inscriptions the word antiqua is used to mean 'ancient'.

Synonyms