This noun denotes the quality of being old or obsolete. Paul uses it in Romans to contrast serving God 'in oldness of the letter' versus 'newness of the Spirit.' The term can simply mean age or antiquity, but in Paul's theological framework it suggests obsolescence—the old covenant arrangement that has been superseded. The word evokes worn-out garments, outdated methods, or past eras. It's not merely temporal age but functional obsolescence that carries the emphasis.