arch.abbr.1. a. archaicb. archaism2. archipelago3. a. architectb. architectureAmerican Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.arch. abbreviation for 1. archaic 2. archaism Collins English Dictionary ? Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
arch.
arch-
arch-(word root)1. principalExamples: archenemy2. prototypicalExamples: archetype3. chief, leader, rulerExamples: monarch, matriarchAbused, Confused, & Misused Words by Mary Embree Copyright © 2007, 2013 by Mary Embreearch- 1pref.1. Chief; highest; most important: archenemy.2. Extreme or most characteristic of its kind: archconservative.[Middle English arche-, from Old English ærce- and from Old French arche-, both from Latin archi-, from Greek arkhi-, archi-.]arch- 2pref. Variant of archi-.American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.arch- or archi-combining form1. chief; principal; of highest rank: archangel; archbishop; archduke. 2. eminent above all others of the same kind; extreme: archenemy; archfiend; archfool. [ultimately from Greek arkhi-, from arkhein to rule]Collins English Dictionary ? Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014arch1 (?rt?) n. 1. a curved construction spanning an opening and usu. supporting weight from above or the sides. 2. a doorway or gateway having a curved head; archway. 3. any overhead curvature resembling an arch. 4. something bowed or curved: the arch of the foot. v.t. 5. to cover or span with an arch. 6. to form into an arch: a cat arching its back. v.i. 7. to form an arch: elms arching over the road. [1250?1300;
arch
arch-(word root)1. principalExamples: archenemy2. prototypicalExamples: archetype3. chief, leader, rulerExamples: monarch, matriarchAbused, Confused, & Misused Words by Mary Embree Copyright © 2007, 2013 by Mary Embreearch1semicircular archA. keystoneB. voussoirsC. springersD. impostsarch 1 (ärch)n.1. A usually curved structure forming the upper edge of an open space and supporting the weight above it, as in a bridge or doorway.2. A structure, such as a freestanding monument, shaped like an inverted U.3. A curve with the ends down and the middle up: the arch of a raised eyebrow.4. Anatomy An organ or structure having a curved or bowlike appearance, especially either of two arched sections of the bony structure of the foot.v. arched, arch·ing, arch·es v.tr.1. To provide with an arch: arch a passageway.2. To cause to form an arch or similar curve.3. To bend backward: The dancers alternately arched and hunched their backs.4. To span: “the rude bridge that arched the flood” (Ralph Waldo Emerson).v.intr. To form an arch or archlike curve: The high fly ball arched toward the stands.[Middle English, from Old French arche, from Vulgar Latin *arca, from Latin arcus.]arch 2 (ärch)adj.1. Chief; principal: their arch foe.2. a. Mischievous; roguish: “She … was arch enough to inform the queen whenever I committed any folly that she thought would be diverting to her majesty” (Jonathan Swift).b. Teasing, ironic, or sardonic: “I know, Edy Boardman said none too amiably with an arch glance from her shortsighted eyes. I know who is Tommy’s sweetheart” (James Joyce).[From arch-.]arch?ly adv.arch?ness n.American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.arch (??t?) n1. (Architecture) a curved structure, normally in the vertical plane, that spans an opening2. (Architecture) Also called: archway a structure in the form of an arch that serves as a gateway3. something curved like an arch4. (Anatomy) a. any of various parts or structures of the body having a curved or archlike outline, such as the transverse portion of the aorta (arch of the aorta) or the raised bony vault formed by the tarsal and metatarsal bones (arch of the foot)b. one of the basic patterns of the human fingerprint, formed by several curved ridges one above the other. Compare loop110a, whorl3vb5. (Architecture) (tr) to span (an opening) with an arch6. to form or cause to form an arch or a curve resembling that of an arch: the cat arched its back. 7. (tr) to span or extend over: the bridge arched the flooded stream. [C14: from Old French arche, from Vulgar Latin arca (unattested), from Latin arcus bow, arc]arch (??t?) adj1. (prenominal) chief; principal; leading: his arch rival. 2. (prenominal) very experienced; expert: an arch criminal. 3. knowing or superior4. playfully or affectedly roguish or mischievous[C16: independent use of arch-] ?archly adv ?archness nCollins English Dictionary ? Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014arch1 (?rt?) n. 1. a curved construction spanning an opening and usu. supporting weight from above or the sides. 2. a doorway or gateway having a curved head; archway. 3. any overhead curvature resembling an arch. 4. something bowed or curved: the arch of the foot. v.t. 5. to cover or span with an arch. 6. to form into an arch: a cat arching its back. v.i. 7. to form an arch: elms arching over the road. [1250?1300;
-arch
-archsuff. Ruler; leader: matriarch.[Middle English -arche, from Old French, from Late Latin -archa, from Latin -arch?s, from Greek -arkh?s, from arkhos, ruler, from arkhein, to rule.]American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.-arch n combining form leader; ruler; chief: patriarch; monarch; heresiarch. [from Greek -arkh?s, from arkhein to rule; compare arch-]Collins English Dictionary ? Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014arch1 (?rt?) n. 1. a curved construction spanning an opening and usu. supporting weight from above or the sides. 2. a doorway or gateway having a curved head; archway. 3. any overhead curvature resembling an arch. 4. something bowed or curved: the arch of the foot. v.t. 5. to cover or span with an arch. 6. to form into an arch: a cat arching its back. v.i. 7. to form an arch: elms arching over the road. [1250?1300;