Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • Of the ancient world; belonging to a prehistoric or far bygone age; antiquated; old-fashioned.
  • Of, pertaining to, or characteristic of the Old World (Europe, Asia, and Africa) as distinguished from the New World or America.
  • Specifically, of or pertaining to the continents of the eastern hemisphere as known before the discovery of America; paleogean: as, the old-world apes.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • adjective Characteristic of former times especially in Europe.
  • adjective (Biology) Native to the Old World; not found in the Americas.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adjective Of, or relating to the ancient world or former times

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • adjective characteristic of former times especially in Europe

Etymologies

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Examples

  • Long ago, the term had old-world connotations: handmade, in small batches, perhaps with locally sourced ingredients.

    unknown title 2011

  • Diane von Furstenberg, who serves as president of the Council of Fashion Designers of America, declared with old-world imperiousness that the sales that had devastated the industry “cannot happen again.”

    Fashion in Dark Times 2009

  • "From a developer's perspective, I'd stay away from the modern, luxury high rise and focus on old-world charm and prewar character."

    Brooklyn Is Set for a Building Boom Laura Kusisto 2012

  • Behind this, and along most of the racetrack-facing side of the casino, are large glass windows with a view of the concourse and the track's groomed gardens, which have a certain old-world, thoroughbred charm to them.

    City's First Casino Gambles With Design Robbie Whelan 2011

  • The fact that social media allows the unwashed masses to have a voice should be embraced by wineries as the best way to get their message to the consumer, who is paying less and less attention to the one-way, force-fed old-world method of communicating via traditional channels. on April 29, 2009 at 4: 22 pm winedivergirl

    Wine in Social Media: What’s Forbidden? « California Life: Better Than Happy Hour 2009

  • EWM Realtors 'It is truly an old-world estate,' Mr. Suarez says of his attraction to the property, which he says has a marble driveway that is the length of a football field.

    Coconut Grove Estate Sushil Cheema 2011

  • While offering contemporary amenities, the Dokhan, with its old-world charm and hint of mystery seems to whisper "love affair."

    Denise Dennis: See, Stroll and Savor Paris in Spring Denise Dennis 2011

  • "Beau Soir" ("Beautiful Evening") is a cleverly packaged concept album of French music publicized with elegant photos and a YouTube video clip; the latter shows Janine Jansen (pronounced Zha-neen Yahn-sen) playing in an old-world setting while recalling a mysterious dreamed or imagined scenario.

    Busy Violinist Seeks Balance Barbara Jepson 2011

  • While offering contemporary amenities, the Dokhan, with its old-world charm and hint of mystery seems to whisper "love affair."

    Denise Dennis: See, Stroll and Savor Paris in Spring Denise Dennis 2011

  • I think people are looking at these things as if they're some sort of old-world victim of some new-age technology that make these franchises no longer viable.

    Shiny Newcomers Steal Glow From Old Tech Jonathan Cheng 2011

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