'antiquer' originates from French, specifically the word 'antiquaire', where 'antique' meant 'old' (from Latin 'antiquus').

'antiquer' changed from the French word 'antiquaire' and was borrowed into English as a noun formed from 'antique' + the agentive suffix '-er', eventually becoming the modern English word 'antiquer'.

Initially, it meant 'a dealer or collector of antiques', and over time it has retained that meaning, now expressed as 'a person who collects, studies, or deals in antiques.'