Archaic
/ɑːrˈkeɪɪk/
adjectiveC1
Definition
Archaic describes something from a long time ago that is not used or common now. It can be about language, like old words, or about things like tools or customs that people do not use anymore. It shows something is old-fashioned or belongs to the past.
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See It in Action
Belonging to an earlier time, no longer in common use
- •The word "thou" is archaic and rarely used in modern English.
- •Archaic laws sometimes still exist but are not followed today.
- •Some archaic tools are kept in museums as history items.
Old-fashioned or outdated in style or practice
- •His archaic ideas about work do not fit the current company culture.
- •The building has an archaic design that reminds us of the 18th century.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "archaic" like "old" (A1 word), but much older and often not used anymore—like something from history books
- ✓Picture an old castle or ancient tools that look strange and different from what we use today
- ✓It's the feeling when you see a very old book or hear words that sound strange and hard to understand
- ✓Sounds like "ark-AY-ik" → imagine an old "ark" (like Noah’s ark) carrying very old things from the past
- ✓Think of movies or stories set in ancient times where people use old words and wear old clothes
- ✓NOT like "old" (which can mean simply aged), "archaic" means something is out of use or no longer normal today
- ✓NOT like "ancient" (which means very old), "archaic" focuses more on being outdated or replaced by modern things
- ✓NOT like "modern" or "new"—archaic is the opposite, showing things from the past
Try Other Words
- •Outdated: no longer useful or fashionable (Use when something is old and not accepted in current times)
- •Ancient: very, very old (Use when emphasizing great age, especially in history)
- •Obsolete: no longer used because something better exists (Use when something is replaced by newer things)
- •Old-fashioned: not modern, from past times (Use when something feels like it belongs to an earlier style or way)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: from Greek "archaios" meaning "ancient" or "original"
- •Etymology: Greek origin, entering English in the late 1500s, meaning something very old or from the beginning
- •Historical development: Used to describe old languages, customs, or things no longer used in everyday life
- •Modern usage: Commonly used to describe old words, ideas, or objects that feel out of date or replaced by modern versions
Reflect & Connect
•Can something be useful even if it is archaic? When might old ideas or tools still help us today?
•How do you feel when you hear archaic words or see old-fashioned things? Do they seem interesting or confusing?
Fill in the blanks
1.The word "archaic" is often used to describe words that are ___ in modern speech but ___ in old books.
2.When a law is archaic, it means it is ___ and not usually ___ anymore.
3.Some people find archaic customs ___, while others think they are important to ___.
4.The design of the building looks archaic because it has ___ styles that are not ___ today.
5.Unlike modern tools, archaic tools are often ___ and kept in ___.
6.If a word is archaic, you might have to ___ to understand it because it is not ___ used.
7.Archaic ideas about work may ___ the way people think in ___ times.