Arch.

Archbishop.

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abbrev

1. Archaic

2. Archaism

3. Archery

4. Archipelago

5. Architect

6. Architectural

7. Architecture

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arch¹ «ahrch», noun, verb.

–n.

1. a curved structure capable of bearing the weight of the material above it. Arches often form the tops of doors, windows, and gateways.

2. a monument in the form of an arch or arches.

3. = archway. (Cf. ↑archway)

4. = instep: (Cf. ↑instep) »

Fallen arches cause flat feet.

5. something like an arch: »

the great blue arch of the sky.

SYNONYM(S): vault.

–v.t.

1. to bend into an arch; curve: »

The wind arched the trees over the road. He arched his eyebrows in mock surprise.

2. to furnish with an arch: »

The rainbow arches the heavens.

3. to form an arch over; span: »

A bridge arched the stream.

–v.i.

to form into an arch or arches; curve: »

The sky arches overhead.

╂[< Old French arche bridge arch < Medieval Latin arca < Latin arcus bow]

arch² «ahrch», adjective.

1. playfully mischievous; saucy or pert; waggish: »

The little girl gave her mother an arch look and ran away. Miss Price…manages to create a girlish and innocent character without seeming in the least bit arch or simpering (Atlantic).

SYNONYM(S): sly, roguish.

2. chief; principal; leading: »

The arch rebel of all was Patrick Henry.

3. Archaic. cunning; crafty: »

... a very arch fellow, a downright hypocrite (John Bunyan).

╂[< arch-]

arch-,

prefix.

1. chief; principal: »

Archbishop = principal bishop. Archenemy = chief enemy.

2. extreme; ultra-: »

Archconservative = extreme conservative.

3. early; primal; primitive: »

Archencephalon = primal encephalon (brain).

Also, archi-.

╂[< Latin archi- < Greek arche-, archi- < archós ruler]

arch.,

1. a) archaic. b) archaism.

2. architecture.

Arch.,

1. archbishop.

2. archipelago.

3. architect.