vintage

[ vin-tij ]

noun

1. the wine from a particular harvest or crop.
2. the annual produce of the grape harvest, especially with reference to the wine obtained.
3. an exceptionally fine wine from the crop of a good year.
4. the time of gathering grapes, or of winemaking.
5. the act or process of producing wine; winemaking.
6. the class of a dated object with reference to era of production or use:

   a hat of last year's vintage.

adjective

1. of or relating to wines or winemaking.
2. being of a specified vintage:

   Vintage wines are usually more expensive than nonvintage wines.

3. representing the high quality of a past time:

   vintage cars;

   vintage movies.

4. old-fashioned or obsolete:

   vintage jokes.

5. being the best of its kind:

   They praised the play as vintage O'Neill.

verb (used with object)

, vin·taged, vin·tag·ing.

1. to gather or harvest (grapes) for wine-making:

   The muscats were vintaged too early.

2. to make (wine) from grapes:

   a region that vintages a truly great champagne.

verb (used without object)

, vin·taged, vin·tag·ing.

1. to harvest grapes for wine-making.

vintage

/ ˈvɪntɪdʒ /

noun

1. the wine obtained from a harvest of grapes, esp in an outstandingly good year, referred to by the year involved, the district, or the vineyard
2. the harvest from which such a wine is obtained
3. 1. the harvesting of wine grapes
   2. the season of harvesting these grapes or for making wine
4. a time of origin

   a car of Edwardian vintage

5. informal.
   a group of people or objects of the same period

   a fashion of last season's vintage

adjective

1. (of wine) of an outstandingly good year
2. representative of the best and most typical

   vintage Shakespeare

3. of lasting interest and importance; venerable; classic

   vintage films

4. old-fashioned; dated

verb

1. tr to gather (grapes) or make (wine)

Other Words From

• non·vintage adjective noun
• un·vintaged adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of vintage¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English (noun), from Anglo-French, from vint(er) vintner + -age -age; replacing Middle English vendage, vindage, from Anglo-French; Old French vendange, from Latin vīndēmia “grape-gathering,” equivalent to vīn(um) “grape, wine” ( wine ) + dēm(ere) “to take from” (from dē- de- + (e)mere “to buy, obtain, take”) + -ia -y ³

Word History and Origins

Origin of vintage¹

C15: from Old French vendage (influenced by vintener vintner ), from Latin vindēmia, from vīnum wine , grape + dēmere to take away (from dē- away + emere to take)

Example Sentences

The alleged underage victim was even called "vintage 99" in text messages, as if she was a wine that one consumes, not a person.

From Salon

I was really into fashion and had this idea to rework vintage or take apart something old and make it new.

From Los Angeles Times

Lloyd’s idea of celebrity is of a very recent vintage.

From Los Angeles Times

Though fashion and passing down clothes are a collaborative effort, for vintage store sellers, a well-curated collection is a deeply personal act.

From Los Angeles Times

Becca ended up inevitably with some vintage sweater bearing a college logo.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• wine