[ARCH- pref. used as a separate word: see next.]
1. Chief, principal, prime, pre-eminent. (Now rarely used without the hyphen.)
1547. Life Abp. Canterb., Pref. D viij b. The fauour off any thoughe neuer so arch a Prelate.
1594. Shaks., Rich. IV., IV. iii. 2. The most arch deed of pittious massacre. Ibid. (1613), Hen. VIII., III. ii. 102. An Heretique, an Arch-one.
1647. Ward, Simp. Cobler, 88. We cannot helpe it though we can, which is the Arch infirmity in all morality.
1649. Prynne, Vind. Lib. Eng., 45. And proclaim them the Archest Impostors under Heaven.
1678. [See 2].
1834. Lytton, Pompeii (1877), 231. Thou mayest have need of thy archest magic to protect thyself.
2. [Arising from prec. sense, in connection with wag, knave, rogue, hence with fellow, face, look, reply, etc.] Clever, cunning, crafty, roguish, waggish. Now usually of women and children, and esp. of their facial expression: Slily saucy, pleasantly mischievous.
1662. More, Antid. Ath., I. viii. (1712), 151. That arch wag … ridiculed that solid argument.
1678. Bunyan, Pilgr., II. 147. Greath. Above all that Christian met … By-ends was the arch one. Hon. By-ends; What was he? Greath. A very arch Fellow, a downright Hypocrite.
1710. Tatler, No. 193, ¶ 1. So arch a leer.
1775. Wesley, Wks. (1872), IV. 41. Some arch boys gave him such a mouthful of dirt.
1810. Crabbe, Borough, xv. Arch was her look and she had pleasant ways.
1872. Black, Adv. Phaeton, xxiii. 324. Her arch ways, and her frank bearing.
1877. M. Arnold, Poems, I. 27. The archest chin Mockery ever ambush’d in.
† b. Const. at, upon. Obs.
1670. Eachard, Contempt Clergy. Lads that are arch knaves at the nominative case.
1712. Steele, Spect., No. 432, ¶ 5. A Templar, who was very arch upon Parsons.
1741. Richardson, Pamela (1824), I. 135. ‘Sir Simon … you are very arch upon us.’
† B. absol. quasi-sb. A chief (one). Obs.
1605. Heywood, If you know not, Wks. (1874), 239. Poole that Arch, for truth and honesty.
1605. Shaks., Lear, II. i. 61. The Noble Duke my Master, My worthy Arch and Patron.
