See Also: Arch(medicine)
arch(4)(dictionary)
arch(2)(dictionary)
W-arch(medicine)
arch-(6)(dictionary)
Arch(health)
arch(encyclopedia)
arch(3)(dictionary)
arch bar(medicine)
ARCH(money)

arch-(6) (iou)



arch- prefix.
[Latin from Greek arkhi- etc., from arkhos chief, or Old French arche- from Latin arch-. Cf. ARCHI-.]
In titles of office, rank, or dignity, with the sense 'principal, -in-chief, superior', as archbishop, archdeacon, archdruid, archduke, etc.
In descriptive appellations of people, with the sense 'a person pre-eminent as, greatest, chief, leading' as arch-critic, arch-defender, etc., and now esp. 'worst of, out-and-out, extremely bad', as arch-conspirator, arch-criminal, arch-heretic, arch-rebel, arch-scoundrel, arch-tempter, arch-thief, arch-traitor, arch-villain, etc. Cf. GRAND adjective1 2.
In descriptive appellations of people, with the sense 'first in time, original', as arch-father, arch-founder. All either obsolete or arch.
Of things:
a. With the sense 'chief, principal, prime', as archdiocese etc.
b. With the sense 'primitive, original', as arch-house, arch-see, etc. All either arch. or obsolete.
archabbey noun [4a] the head abbey of a Benedictine congregation L19.
archabbot noun [1] the chief abbot of a Benedictine congregation L19.
arch-chanter noun (obsolete exc. Hist.) [1] a precentor LME.
,archconfra'ternity noun [1] Roman Catholic Church a confraternity with power to incorporate or affiliate other similar confraternities M17.
archdean noun (chiefly Scot., obsolete exc. Hist.) [1] a chief dean, an archdeacon LME.
arch'deanery noun (chiefly Scot., obsolete exc. Hist.) [4a] the jurisdiction, rank, or office of an archdean L15.
arch'diocese noun [4a] the see or jurisdiction of an archbishop E19.
arch-'enemy noun [2] a chief enemy; the Devil: M16.
arch-fiend noun [2] a chief fiend, the Devil M17.
arch-flamen noun (now arch. & Hist.) [medieval Latin archiflamen] a chief flamen or priest, an archbishop LME.
arch-foe noun [2] an arch-enemy, the Devil E17.
arch-poet noun [1] a chief or first poet, a poet laureate E17-M18.
arch-prelate noun [1] a chief prelate, an archbishop L16.