Antiquierte

Antiquierte is a form related to the German verb antiquieren, and also an adjective form used to describe things as outdated or aged. As a verb form, antiquierte is the simple past (Präteritum) of antiquieren, meaning to antiquate, to age something or to give it an antique appearance. As an adjective, antiquiert (with the associated attributive form antiquierte for feminine or plural nouns) describes something that already seems old-fashioned or out of date, or something that has been artificially aged to achieve a vintage look.

Etymology and related terms: the word derives from Latin antiquus meaning ancient or old. In German, related terms include Antiquität (antique), Antiquitätengüter (antique goods), and Antiquieren (to age or to antique). The use of antiquieren can imply both a deliberate stylistic aging, such as furniture that is treated to look old, and a perception of obsolescence in ideas, technologies, or practices.

Usage and nuance: antiquiert is common in contemporary German to label systems, ideas, fashion, or technology as outdated. Antiquierte, when used attributively, can describe items that have undergone an aging or weathering process to evoke a vintage aesthetic. Compared with synonyms like veraltet, altmodisch, or überholt, antiquiert often carries a subtle connotation of deliberate styling or historical impression in addition to mere obsolescence.

Examples: Die Kleidung wirkt antiquiert. Die Technik ist antiquiert und entspricht nicht mehr den Anforderungen. Der Tisch wurde antiquiert, um den Vintage-Look zu erzeugen.