archaic
Definitions
Very old-fashioned or no longer in current use; belonging to an earlier period.
古老的，过时的；属于更早年代的。
(Of language) marked as old-fashioned and used only in special contexts, such as poetry, law, or ceremony.
（指语言）古体的，标记为过时、仅用于诗歌、法律或仪式等特殊语境。
Root Breakdown
Root-derivedarchae- (ancient) + -ic (having the nature of) = "having the nature of the ancient." From naming the old, the word grew a judgment: something archaic isn't just old, it feels out of place today — an archaic law, an archaic word.
Root archaeo still carries 3 more wordsUsage Guide
Tone varies. Neutral/technical: linguists call old grammar "archaic" without criticism (thou, thee). Mildly critical: calling a system or attitude "archaic" implies it should have been replaced long ago. In dictionaries, the label archaic marks a word as no longer in normal use.
Example Sentences
- 1.
The contract still uses archaic legal language no one understands.
- 2.
"Thou" is an archaic form of "you."
- 3.
Critics called the company's hierarchy hopelessly archaic.
Easily Confused
archaic vs obsolete — Both mean out of date, but degree differs. Archaic is old-fashioned yet still understood and occasionally used (poetry, law). Obsolete is fully dead — no longer used or functional at all (an obsolete machine, an obsolete word dropped from the language). Still around but quaint → archaic; gone for good → obsolete.
Synonym Comparison
- archaic — old-fashioned, from an earlier era, but still recognizable
- ancient — extremely old, from the distant past (ancient Rome)
- obsolete — no longer used or produced; replaced by something newer
- antiquated — outdated and impractical, often with a tone of disapproval
- old-fashioned — neutral, everyday word for out of current style