LATIN DICTIONARYLexicon Latīnum
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“old” in Latin

Riddle & Arnold A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon, 1864

old
That has existed or lasted a long time, not new, etc., vetus (refers simply to the length of time, and denotes oldness sometimes as a commendation, sometimes as blame; opposed to novus, new, that has lately sprung up): vetustus (become old, refers to the advantage of age, and is said of that which has gained a good quality by age, that has grown stronger, more noble or excellent. The comparative vetustior is used also as comparative to vetus): vetulus (of persons, somewhat advanced in years, in the decline of life; implying disparagement): veteratus, more commonly inveteratus (inveterate, fast-rooted, e.g., veteratus ulcus; inveteratum malum; jam inveterata amicitia): antiquus: very old, perantiquus (that was or existed in by-gone times, also ancient; opposed to recens): (The words are found in this connection and order.) vetus et antiquus; priscus (very ancient, frequently with the notion of sacredness or venerable character. ☞ Cascus has the same signification, but is not found in classical prose). (The words are found in this connection and order.) priscus et vetustus; vetus et priscus; priscus et antiquus; pristinus (former): antiquo artificio factus, antiqui operis (of an old work of art): obsoletus (not new, worn out, gone out offashion). (The words are found in this connection and order.) antiquus et obsoletus; ruinosus (ready to fall, ruinous). Comparative, OLDER, ELDER, prior; superior; e.g., Dionysius the elder, Dionysius superior (Vid: Ochs., Cic., Ecl., p. 63): the oldest letter, anuquissima epistola: an old soldier, veteranus miles, or simply veteranus, miles exercitatus et vetus (opposed to tiro miles or miles rudis et inexercitatus): miles militia confectus or fractus (an invalid): an old poet, friend, poeta, amicus vetus: an old general, imperator vetus: an old family, genus antiquum: old custom or usage, mos majorum or superiorum: this is an old custom, mos hic a patribus acceptus: old institutions, vetera et prisca instituta: an old constitution (of state), prisca reipublicae forma: a man of the old stamp, priscae probitatis et fidei exemplar; homo antiqua virtute et fide; homo antiquis moribus: an old story, historia vetus et antiqua: the good old times, vetus or prior aetas: the old world, olden times, antiquitas, veteres, antiqui or prisci homines: old writers, veteres and (opposed to later writers) vetustiores scriptores: to put anything on its old footing, in pristinum restituere: to leave all things in their old state or condition, omnia integra servare: to grow old, vetustescere (of things which improve by age): veterascere, senescere (of things which spcil by age): inveterascere (to fall under the right of prescription, to become superannuated): inveterari (to become rooted or established). [Vid :, also, ANCIENT.]
Of a good age, especially of persons, grandis; grandior (in years, with or without natu): senex (an old man from sixty; with accessory notion of respect; never as a feminine): aetate gravis; pergrandis natu, exacts jam aetatis (very old): decrepitus, aetate or senio confectus (old and weak, decrepit): an old man, senex, homo aetate grandior: old fellow! mi vetule! (in pity or sorrow): old fool! stulte! silicernium (Terentianus, Andr., 4, 3, 34; a term of reproach; of an old man that bends over his staff, and as it were looks at the stones or pebbles in the road): like an old man, seniliter: an old woman, an old maid, vetula (rather implying contempt): anus, anicula (implying either respect or contempt): like an old woman, aniliter: the old, senes (opposed to pueri and adolescentes): parentes (opposed to liberi; also of birds).

Quick answer

What is the Latin word for old?
The usual Latin words for “old” are vetus, vetustus, vetulus; also veterō, inveterō, antīquus. The right choice depends on the sense; see the distinctions below.

Entry from J. E. Riddle & T. K. Arnold, A Copious and Critical English–Latin Lexicon (rev. C. Anthon, New York: Harper, 1864), digitised by Fergus J. P. Walsh, CC BY-SA 4.0; Latin markup adapted by latindictionary.co.