Antediluvian
/ˌænti.dɪˈluː.vi.ən/noun
Relating to the time before the biblical Flood; extremely old-fashioned or outdated.
Did you know?Antediluvian comes from the Latin phrase *ante diluvium*, and the Flood it refers to is the biblical deluge, so the word carries a built-in apocalyptic memory.
Etymological Timeline
Biblical Latin
Latin
ante diluvium
“before the Flood”
Late Latin
Latin
antediluvianus
“pertaining to the time before the Flood”
17th Century
English
antediluvian
“of or belonging to the time before the biblical Flood”
19th Century
English
antediluvian
“extremely ancient; old-fashioned”
Modern English
English
antediluvian
“very old or outdated, especially in a comically obsolete way”