antiquated vs archaic

[Cayte]

Hi Luke,
 
    These two words are both used to describe something old; however, I'm not quite certain how to use them in a sentence.

    Is DOS operating system considered to be antiquated or archaic? Thanks

    Cayte

[Cayte]

What do you think of these two sentences?

Steam locomotives are antiquated but can still be found in the museums.

A good dictionary lists meanings of words that are archaic as well as those that are currently used.

[luke]

Hi Cayte,

It's true that they have a similar meaning, but they are subtly different too.

Antiquated
Out of fashion, or use. Seeming to belong to an earlier period.
That steam engine is an antiquated form of transport

Archaic
Seeming to belong to an earlier period which is less advanced or lacking in some way
The word 'ye' (meaning you) is an archaic word

In my own opinion, a better choice for your DOS operating system would be out-of-date, outdated or behind the times. If you really wanted to choose one of the two options above, it seems that archaic is the best choice because of the reference to less advanced technology.

Hope that helps 

[luke]

That's so interesting. You chose the same examples as me. Spooky!

I think they are both good examples and follow the right path.