We all periodically use the word "antediluvian", sometimes without even thinking where it came from. Almost everyone knows what it means and in what cases it is used. However, not everyone understands the history of its origin. Antediluvian is a word that arose not just from a random set of letters. What does it mean and when did it appear?
"Antediluvian". What does the word mean?
Surely everyone knows the biblical story of the Flood. This is a great flood that God sent to people as punishment for their lawlessness and moral decline. As a result, all living things on Earth died, except for the pious Noah, his family and "every creature in pairs." They escaped from flooding on Noah's huge ship - the ark.
The word "antediluvian" in Russian appeared in the eighteenth century. It was formed from the noun “flood”, and the prefix prefixed the fact that events occurred before the great flood. The time at which the Flood occurred was taken as a certain reference point. The Flood itself happened a very long time ago, and what came before it is completely ancient.
What does the word "antediluvian" mean? According to the explanatory dictionary, "antediluvian" is obsolete, old-fashioned, extinct, backward. Until the 30-40s. of the nineteenth century, the word was used in a more literal meaning, that is, it characterized the events that occurred before the Flood. Later it acquired an ironic coloring and began to be used in a playful tone, denoting something very ancient and backward.
Examples of using the word "antediluvian"
Consider examples of the use of the term "antediluvian" in the literature. What does the word mean in the works of writers? The expression "antediluvian" was used in the works of many writers and poets. For example, Lermontov in his "Valerique" uses this word, characterizing forests over which lighthouses flickered. I.S. Turgenev mentions him in Literary and Worldly Memories, describing the times in which the conversation between Pletnev and Koltsov took place. V.S. Kurochkin calls the "antediluvian" pun intended in his poem entitled "A Common Acquaintance."
The sharpest turn in the figurative use of the word "antediluvian" in expressive presentation is associated with the name Ap. Grigoryeva. A. Galakhov in 1877 noted the peculiar style of the author, who, among other new terms used by him, uses the word "antediluvian" in relation to Polezhaev, Lazhechnikov and Marlinsky. Galakhov notes that to use the word "antediluvian" in relation to them is not entirely correct, as it turns out that they existed before the Flood. In his opinion, this pun could give rise to journalistic mockery of them.
Synonyms and antonyms of the word
We have already clarified the meaning of the word "antediluvian". Like almost any word in Russian, this term also has synonyms and antonyms. What are the synonyms of the word "antediluvian"? This: the Old Testament, obsolete, old-fashioned, backward, fossil, archaic and others. The word "pre-war" is also often used. It has a similar principle of education, however, the Flood, but the Great Patriotic War, is not taken as a reference point.
It is clear that this term is more modern, since the Great Flood occurred much earlier than military operations. However, the meaning of these two words is very similar.
The antonym of the word "antediluvian", which means ancient, respectively, are the following words: modern, present.
Conclusion
The sphere of use of the word "antediluvian" is very interestingly distributed. The meaning of the word, as already noted above, is used most often in a humorous expression. It is quite common in general vocabulary. Not so often it is mentioned in history, as well as in colloquial and figurative expressions.
This adjective can be used with so many words. They can be characterized by old appliances, outdated equipment, old-fashioned views on any things, etc. This term can be called everything that was created a very long time ago or went out of fashion. It is only necessary to take into account the fact that in the modern world this adjective is ironic, and by calling someone or something "antediluvian", you can offend someone else's feelings.
Therefore, use it carefully, sorting out the history of its occurrence and use, so as not to accidentally offend anyone and not cause negative emotions in your address.