Arch-

prefix: repr. Gr. ἀρχι-, ἀρχ’-, comb. form of ἀρχ-ός chief (cogn. w. ἀρχ-ειν to begin, take the lead), as in ἀρχι-διάκονος chief-minister, ἀρχι-επίσκοπος chief-bishop, ἀρχ-άγγελος chief-angel. Hence in later L. archidiāconus, archiepiscopus, archangelus; in OF. arce-archediacne, arce-archevesque, arc-archangele. (In L. the ch was treated as c; hence, in Romanic, it remained = k in archangelus; in other words, it became in It. arce-, arci-, Pr., Sp., Pg. arce, OF. arce-, later arche-; whence G. erz-, Du. aarts-.)

  In OE. at first translated by héah- high (héah-diacon, héah-biscop, héah-ęngel, etc.), but also at length adopted from L. as arce-, ærce-, ęrce- (? orig. arci-), in ęrce-diacon, ęrce-biscop, ęrce-stól arch-see, ęrce-hád archiepiscopal dignity. The OE. ęrce-, arce-, became in ME. erche- arche-, the latter coinciding with OF. arche-, whence also archangel was added. From these, in later times, arch- became a living formative, prefixable to any name of office. The same happened in med.L. and most mod. langs.; hence many of the Eng. examples, e.g., archduke, are adaptations of foreign titles. Since the 16th c., arch- has been freely prefixed to names of agents and appellatives (like arci- in Ital., and archi- in French, as archifou, archipédant); in a few instances also to appellations of things, and occasionally even to adjectives. Finally, from its faculty of being prefixed to any appellative, arch has gradually come to be a separate adjective; see prec. word. (In modern literary words from Gr., the prefix is, in Eng., as in all the Romance langs., ARCHI- q.v.) In pronunciation, the compounds of arch- have two accents, either of which may be the stronger, according to emphasis, as in right hand. But established compounds, as archangel, -bishop, -deacon, -duke, tend to have the main stress on arch-, especially when they are prefixed to a name, as, the A·rchduke Char·les, A·rchbishop Cra·nmer. As a prefix the usual sense is ‘chief, principal, high, leading, prime,’ occasionally ‘first in time, original, initial,’ but in modern use it is chiefly prefixed intensively to words of bad or odious sense, as in arch-traitor, arch-enemy, arch-rogue.

  1.  a. In titles of office, rank or dignity: meaning, ‘Chief, principal, -in-chief; superior, master-; one who occupies a position or rank above those who bear the simple title’; as ARCHBISHOP, ARCHDEACON, ARCHDUKE; arch-beadle, -brahmin, -chaplain, -druid, -eunuch (Gr. ἀρχιευνοῦχος), -gunner (obs.), -magi·rist (Gr. ἀρχι-μάγειρος) chief cook, -mime (= ARCHIMIME), -minister, -phylarch chief magistrate of the tribe, -satrap, -visitor; especially in many titles of offices in the Holy Roman or German empire, as arch-butler, -chamberlain, -chancellor, -count, -cupbearer; arch-dapifer, chief sewer, whose office it was to carry on horseback the first meal to the newly crowned emperor, whence archdapifership; arch-earl, -marshal, -sewer, -steward, -treasurer. b. In appellations formed after these, and applied in a similar sense, as arch-apostle chief apostle, or chief of the apostles; arch-chief, -corsair, -dæmon, emperor, -engineer, -genethliac (Gr. γενεθλιακός) chief caster of nativities, -governor, -magician, -patriarch, -pontiff, -primate, -prince, -publican, -regent, -ruler, -sacrificator, -sacrificer, -shepherd, -vestryman, -workmaster.

  a.  1693.  Apol. Clergy Scot., 20. *Arch-Bedle to the Kirk.

1727–51.  Chambers, Cycl., s.v., The elector of Brandenbourg is *arch-chamberlain of the empire.

1842.  Alison, Hist. Eur., XIII. lxxxix. § 6. 185. Talleyrand, in his capacity of *arch-chancellor of the empire.

1614.  Selden, Titles Hon., 243. *Arch-Chaplains constituted, in those elder times in the Court for Ecclesiastical matters.

1753.  Chambers, Cycl. Supp., *Arch-Count, a title antiently given to the Earl of Flanders.

1690.  Lond. Gaz., mmdxxxiii/3. The Elector of Bavaria, as *Archdapifer, rid in his Robes to the Kitchin.

1661.  Morgan, Sph. Gentry, IV. vi. 82. The *archdapifirship with all the prerogatives thereof.

1747.  Carte, Hist. Eng., I. 32. The *Arch-Druid’s mansion house.

1839.  Keightley, Hist. Eng., I. 2. Presided over by an *arch-druid.

1599.  A. M., trans. Gabelhouer’s Bk. Physic, 338/1. The *Archearle Fredericke.

1727–51.  Chambers, Cycl., s.v., The *archeunuch was one of the principal officers in Constantinople.

1664.  Floddan Field, VIII. 72. Th’ *archgunner on th’’English part.

1814.  Sch. Good Living, 26. Cadmus, *archmagirist to the king of Sidon.

a. 1634.  Chapman, Alphonsus, Plays, 1873, III. 206. Augustus Duke of Saxon, *Arch Marshall to the Emperor.

1678.  Marvell, Corr., 361, Wks. 1875, II. 631. One Mr. Welch is their *arch-minister.

1683.  Burnet, trans. More’s Utopia, 76. Another Magistrate … called … the *Arch-philarch.

1847.  Ld. Lindsay, Chr. Art, I. Introd. 55. The *archsatrap Satan.

1622.  Heylin, Cosmogr., II. (1682), 103. The Office of Archidapifer, or *Arch-Sewer.

1643.  Prynne, Power Parl., App. 156. The king verily hath his great Master or *Arch-Steward.

1661.  Morgan, Sph. Gentry, IV. vi. 82. The Count Palatine was created … *Arch Treasurer of the Empire.

a. 1672.  Wood, Life (1848), 41. By the favour of the Warden Sir N. Brent the *Arch-visitor.

  b.  1726.  J. Trapp, Popery, I. (T.). The highest titles would have been given to St. Petre, such as *arch-apostle.

1590.  Barrow & Greenw., in Confer., 43. Christ being … *Arch-cheif, high Bishop of Bishopps.

1728.  Morgan, Algiers, II. iv. 288. I bid this *Arch-Corsair a final Adieu.

1849.  Sir J. Stephen, Eccl. Biog. (1850), I. 365. Indolence, self-will, and selfishness … *archdæmons of the cloister.

1816.  Southey, in Q. Rev., XVI. 230. Grand Monarque, Emperor, or *Arch-emperor, if it liked him better.

1835.  Browning, Paracels., II. 32. The dupes of this Old *arch-genethliac.

1567.  Jewel, Def. Apol. (1611), 420. Yee *Archgouerners of Christs Church.

1553–87.  Foxe, A. & M., 88/2. The magicians and *archmagicians.

1579.  Fulke, Heskins’s Parl., Title-p., *Archpatriarches of the Popish Synagogue.

1790.  Burke, Fr. Rev., 16. This *archpontiff of the rights of men.

1583.  Stubbes, Anat. Abuses, 17. At the command of their superintendent, or *arch-primate.

1649.  Bp. Hall, Cases Consc., vii. (1654), 47. The *Arch-publican Zacheus.

1650[?].  Don Bellianis, 107. *Arch-ruler over so many territories.

1818.  Bentham, Ch. Eng., 361. The Noble Reformer, in the character of *Arch-Sacrificator.

1656.  Trapp, Comm. Matt. ii. 6. Christ is the *arch-Shepherd, that feeds his people daily.

1859.  Helps, Friends in C., Ser. II. I. i. 23. The *arch-vestryman, who objects to every thing proposed by everybody.

1630.  J. Taylor (Water P.), Superb. Flag., Wks. I. 28/1. Then did the *Archworkmaster of this All Create this Massie Vniversall Ball.

  2.  In descriptive appellations: meaning, ‘One pre-eminent as, who performs the action or possesses the quality before others; greatest, chief, leading’; as arch-antiquary, -artist, -builder, -consoler, -critic, -defender, -diplomatist, -divine, -dogmatist, -exorcist, -friend, -host, -jockey, -leader, -lexicographer, -mystagogue, -philosopher, -player, -politician, -prophet, -protestant, -puritan, -representative, -saint, -semipelagian, -urger, -wag, -wench, -worker.

  In modern use especially with terms of odium or execration: meaning, ‘Extreme, out-and-out, worst of, ringleader of’; as arch-agitator, -botcher, -boutefeu (= incendiary), -buffoon, -charlatan, -cheater, -conspirator, -corrupter, -cosener, -criminal, -deceiver, -depredator, -despot, -devil, -dissembler, -disturber, -dolt, -felon, -fool, -gomeril, -humbug, -hypocrite, -informer, -knave, -liar, -plotter, -plunderer, -pretender, -robber, -rogue, -scoundrel, -seducer, -spy, -tempter, turncoat, -traitor, -tyrant, -vagabond. Many of these are used with a specific reference to the Devil.

1840.  Gen. P. Thompson, Exerc. (1842), V. 158. Thanking the *‘Arch-Agitator’ [O’Connell].

1611.  Speed, Hist. Gt. Brit., V. iii. 12. Proued by our *arch-Antiquary in his famous work.

1640.  Sanderson, 21 Serm., Ad. Aul. xii. (1673), 176. The great *Arch-architect, the builder and maker of all things.

1579.  J. Stubbes, Gaping Gulf, B vij b. That Romish *archbaalam.

a. 1635.  Corbet, To Ghost R. Wisdome (T.). *Archbotcher of a psalm or prayer.

1685.  Evelyn, Diary (1827), III. 164. The *arch-boutefeu Ferguson, Matthews, were not yet found.

1577.  Holinshed, Chron., II. 26/2. The *archbrochers of their brethrens bloud.

c. 1600.  Hooker, Eccl. Pol., VII. 441. The very blessed Apostle … giveth unto himself the title of an *archbuilder [1 Cor. iii. 10].

1853.  Trench, Proverbs, 141. Men fancy they can cheat the *arch-cheater.

1548.  Hall, Chron. Hen. IV., an. 1 (1809), 24. Hector Bocce, the Scottish *Archechronocler.

1859.  Helps, Friends in C., Ser. II. I. 8. Change is the *arch-consoler.

1594.  Merry Knack, I. in Hazl., Dodsl., VI. 528. When I came to the Exchange, I espied … An *archcosener.

1626[?].  trans. Boccalina, 187 (T.). Promoted … to be the *archcritick of the sacred muses.

1849.  Macaulay, Hist. Eng., II. 520. A new crime of the *archdeceiver.

1616.  R. C., Times’ Whis., v. 2111. Drunkennesse hath got an *arch-defender.

1818.  Bentham, Ch. Eng., 349. Wealth thus devoured by the *arch-depredator.

1649.  S. Clark, Lives Fathers (1654), 245. Luther … called the Zinglians, *Archdevils.

1869.  Freeman, Norm. Conq., III. xii. 116. The King of France then, is the *arch-disturber.

1551.  Robinson, trans. More’s Utopia (1869), 39. Thies wysefooles and verye *archedoltes.

1612–5.  Bp. Hall, Contempl., III. i. 61. They accuse him for an *archexorcist, for the worst kinde of magician.

1667.  Milton, P. L., IV. 179. Which when th’ arch-fellon saw, Due entrance he disdained.

1866.  Carlyle, Remin. (1881), I. 132. Robert Owen, the then incipient *arch-gomeril.

1826.  Southey, Lett. (1856), IV. 40. The ‘Life of an *Arch-humbug.’

1685.  Baxter, Paraphr. Matt. xxvii. 6. Thus *Arch-hypocrites make conscience of Ceremony, and make no conscience of Perjury.

1761.  Sterne, Tr. Shandy (1802), IV. xx. 93. As if the *arch-jockey of jockeys had got behind me.

1866.  Spectator, 6 Jan. Calling you or your friend ‘an *arch-knave.’

1827.  Hare, Guesses, I. (1873), 82. Vice is the greatest of all Jacobins, the *arch-leveler.

a. 1711.  Ken, Poet. Wks., 1721, IV. 76. A Legion led, With the *Arch-Murderer at Head.

1856.  R. Vaughan, Mystics (1860), I. 231. Following Dionysius, that *arch-mystagogue.

1610.  Healey, St. Aug., City of God, 254. One old *arch-plaier plaid the Mimike.

1625.  trans. Camden’s Hist. Eliz., III. (1688), 344. The *Arch-plotter … of this Treason.

1665.  Boyle, Occas. Refl., IV. xiii. (1675), 250. The Old Serpent himself, that *Arch-politician.

1677.  Gilpin, Dæmonol. Sac. (1867), 169. Arch-heretics have been *arch-pretenders to sanctity.

1873.  J. Morley, Rousseau, I. ix. 309. Voltaire was the *Arch-representative of all these elements.

a. 1650.  May, Satyr. Puppy, 46. Some *Arch-Rogue … hath done her wrong.

1674.  Hickman, Hist. Quinquart. (ed. 2), 38. Forged by Faustus that *Arch-Semipelagian.

1630.  Wadsworth, Sp. Pilgr., viii. 89. I was an *Arch-spye against their State.

1654.  Gataker, Disc. Apol., 64. As did that *Arch-turncoat of Spalata.

1862.  Merivale, Rom. Emp. (1865), VII. lv. 2. This *arch-tyrant … most detestable of the Cæsarean family.

1656.  trans. B. Valentine’s Twelve Keyes, 6. That arch-wench Venus.

1877.  E. Conder, Bas. Faith, iv. 189. The materials with which Reason, the *arch-worker, toils to construct her fabric.

  3.  As prec., with sense of, ‘First in time, original’; as arch-father (1541), -founder, -god, -messenger, -plagiary. Mostly archaic.

1541.  Coverdale, Old Faith, v. Wks. 1844, I. 29. [Cain] the *archfather of all murderers.

1641.  Milton, Ch. Govt., ii. (1851), 106. Him whom they fain to be the *archfounder of Prelaty, S. Peter.

1846.  Grote, Greece (1869), I. 12. Homer knows nothing of Uranus, in the sense of an *arch-God, anterior to Kronos.

1835.  Lytton, Rienzi, VII. vi. 334. The *arch-messenger to smooth the way and prepare the welcome.

1659.  Gell, Amendm. Bible, 787. Adam the *arch-plagiary, who hath brought us all into bondage.

  4.  Of things: with sense of a. ‘Chief, principal, main, prime’; as arch-beacon, -city, -fire, -heart, -machine, -piece, -pillar (1553), -practice, -synagogue (all Obs. or archaic); arch-infamy, -mediocrity, -mock, -mockery, -sin (1598), etc. b. ‘Primitive, original’; as † arch-christendom, arch-essence, -form. Spec. arch-house, archducal house (of Austria); † arch-pall, archiepiscopal pall; † arch-sea, archipelago; arch-see, archiepiscopal see.

1602.  Carew, Cornwall (1723), 138 b. The top of the Cornish *Archbeacon Hainborough.

c. 1630.  Risdon, Surv. Devon, § 314. Their order … was … utterly abolished in *Archchristendom.

1633.  P. Fletcher, Purple Isl., II. xliv. That *arch-city of this government.

1652.  Benlowes, Theoph., VIII. x. *Archessence! Thou, self full! self infinite! Residing in approachlesse light.

1654.  Goddard, in Burton’s Diary (1828), I. 171. A piece of that *archfire, that hath been in this your time.

1873.  Ma. Blind, Strauss’s Old Faith, li. 208. The two *arch-forms of organic life.

1685.  trans. Gracian’s Courtier’s Man., 122. The Heart of Alexander was an *Arch-heart, seeing a whole world lodged easily in a corner of it.

1834.  Bancroft, Hist. U.S., VI. Index 497. Decadence of the *arch-house.

1871.  Browning, Pr. Hohenstiel, 1529. That lie of lies, *arch-infamy.

1861.  Emerson, Cond. Life, i. 14. Man is the *arch-machine.

1604.  Shaks., Oth., IV. i. 71. O, ’tis the spight of hell, the Fiend’s *Arch-mock.

1826.  E. Irving, Babylon, II. VI. 85. Its *arch-mockery, and master-piece of wickedness.

1866.  Jrnl. Sacr. Lit., No. 19. 187. Little less than an *arch-mystery.

1848.  Petrie, trans. O. E. Chron. (1853), 79. [He] went to Rome after his *arch-pall.

1630.  Naunton, Fragm. Reg. (Arb.), 38. Sir Nicholas Bacon, An *arch-piece of Wit and Wisdom.

1553–87.  Foxe, A. & M., 209/1. *Archpillers of all papistrie.

1586.  T. Bright, A Treatise of Melancholie, xxxv. 193. That *archpiller of faith and assurance in Christ Jesus our hope.

1628.  Earle, Microcosm., liii. 115. It may be an *Arch-practice of State.

1613.  Zouche, Dove, 25. The *Arch-Sea rowling from th’ unruly North.

1612.  Drayton, Poly-olb., xxiv. (1748), 360. Next these *arch-sees of ours now London place doth take.

1865.  Morn. Star, 16 Feb. The *arch see of Canterbury.

1598.  J. Dickenson, Arisbas (1878), 55. The Seede of all mischiefe, that *Arch-sinne usurie.

1655.  Fuller, Ch. Hist., III. vi. § 33. They had their *Arch-Synagogue at the North corner of the Old-Jury.

  5.  Adjectives: as † arch-chemic, chief in alchemy; † arch-noble, noble in a superior degree.

1667.  Milton, P. L., III. 609. Th’ *Arch-chimic Sun so farr from us remote.

1761.  Smollett, Gil Blas, III. ix. I. 301. The ladies of the stage are not only noble, but *arch-noble.