'antiquity' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'antiquitas', where 'antiquus' meant 'old'.

'antiquity' was borrowed into Old French as 'antiquité', then into Middle English (as 'antiquite'), and eventually became the modern English word 'antiquity' (with the plural 'antiquities').

Initially, it meant 'oldness' or 'the state of being old', but over time it evolved to refer both to 'the ancient past' and to 'objects or remains from ancient times'.