Word: archaic (adjective)

Associations

"Archaic" means something very old or no longer used in modern times. It often describes words, objects, or ideas from the past that seem outdated today.

• Example 1: "Thou art" is an archaic way to say "you are." People don’t use it in everyday speech now.
• Example 2: Some laws are archaic and need to be updated to fit modern society.
• Example 3: The old computer system was archaic compared to new technology. A synonym is "obsolete," but "archaic" usually refers to something very old and sometimes still understood, while "obsolete" means completely out of use or replaced.

Substitution

You can use words like:

• old-fashioned (less formal, more about style)
• outdated (focuses on being behind current standards)
• obsolete (means no longer used or useful) Using "archaic" often suggests something is ancient or from a much earlier time.

Deconstruction

The word "archaic" comes from Greek "arkhaikos," meaning "ancient" or "old-fashioned."

• Prefix: "arch-" means "ancient" or "first."
• Suffix: "-aic" relates to something characteristic of a time or style. So, "archaic" literally means "belonging to ancient times."

Inquiry

• Can you think of any archaic words in your language that people don’t use anymore?
• Have you ever seen an archaic object or idea that surprised you?
• How might knowing about archaic words help you understand old books or history better?