different between prehistoric vs antediluvian

English

Alternative forms

• pre-historic

Etymology

From pre- (“before”) +? historic, q.v., similar to slightly earlier ante-historic.

Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -?r?k

Adjective

prehistoric (comparative more prehistoric, superlative most prehistoric)

1. (properly) Of or relating to the epoch before written record.
   • 1832 October, Foreign Quarterly Review, p. 369:

     Was it then in a pre-historic time that the Romans wandered into these lands?

2. (inexact or humorous) Synonym of ancient: very old, nonmodern, unfashionable, etc.

Synonyms

• ante-historic

Derived terms

• prehistorically
• prehistoric age

Related terms

• prehistory

Descendants

• French: préhistorique

Translations

English

Etymology

From ante- (“before”) +? Latin d?luvium (“flood”) +? -an; in reference to the story of Noah’s Ark (Genesis 6–9), an early episode in the Bible.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /?ant?d??lu?v??n/

Adjective

antediluvian (comparative more antediluvian, superlative most antediluvian)

1. Ancient or antiquated.

   Synonyms: antediluvial, old, prehistoric; see also Thesaurus:old

2. Extremely dated.

   Synonyms: dated, old-fashioned; see also Thesaurus:obsolete
3. Pertaining or belonging to the time period prior to a great or destructive flood or deluge.

   Synonym: preflood

4. (biblical) Pertaining or belonging to the time prior to Noah's Flood.

   Synonym: antediluvial

   Coordinate term: prelapsarian

Translations

Noun

antediluvian (plural antediluvians)

1. One who lived prior to Noah's Flood.

Related terms

• deluge
• diluvial

Further reading

• antediluvian on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
• “antediluvian”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–present.

Romanian

Etymology

From French antédiluvien

Noun

antediluvian n (plural antediluvieni)

1. antediluvian

Declension