arch-

See also: arch, ARCH, ärch, -arch, and arch.

English

Alternative forms

• archi-
• archo-

Etymology

From Middle English arch-, arche-, from Old English arċe-, ærċe-, erċe- (“arch-”), borrowed from Latin archi-, this stemming from Ancient Greek ἀρχι- (arkhi-).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɑː(ɹ)t͡ʃ/, /ɑ(ɹ)k/

Prefix

arch-

2. A title in a hierarchy which indicates a higher degree of rank than its root word.

   archeparch is the archbishop of an archeparchy, archmarshal is the grand marshal of the old German empire, archdiocese is an area administered by an archbishop. These are all specific ranks. Synonym: grand-

4. Leading, foremost, primary, or principal.

   archantagonist is a chief antagonist, archmodernist is a leading modernist, archcompetitor is a primary competitor. Unlike the previous sense these are not formal titles, but are nevertheless a leader of the community indicated by the root. Synonym: ultra- Synonym: aristo-

   • 2022 November 2, Ed Pilkington, “‘The Trump playbook’: Republicans hint they will deny election results”, in The Guardian‎^[1]:

     That an arch-election denier who has been at the forefront of attempts to overturn Biden’s victory should refuse to state openly whether she will abide by the outcome of her own election has set alarm bells ringing.

6. (augmentative) Intensely, extremely, or exceptionally.

   archfool is an extremely foolish person, archracist is an extremely racist person, archnationalist is extremely nationalist. Synonym: hyper- Synonym: super-

   • 2024 April 3, Phil McNulty, “Man City 4-1 Aston Villa: Phil Foden produces 'masterclass' to show worth again”, in BBC‎^[2]:

     The arch-perfectionist Guardiola, almost inevitably, pointed out that Foden did not start well but he could not argue with how he finished, saying: "He can do whatever he wants. He's a really top-class player.

8. Powerful, potent.

   archmage is a very powerful mage; archvillain is the most evil or powerful villain; archwife is a big, masculine wife and/or a dominating woman. Note that the archwife is a powerful woman who is a wife, rather than being intensely wifely. Synonym: stheno- Synonym: mega-

10. First; original.

    In Judeo-Christian lore: archangel refers to the first and original angels, archdevil to their devil counterparts, archsin is an original or primary sin. Synonym: proto- Synonym: ur-

Synonyms

• (augmentative, including extreme): super-, supra-, hyper-, ultra-, uber-, macro-, over-, mega-, maxi-, giga-, -zilla, grand
• (original or oldest): proto-, ur-

Derived terms

English terms prefixed with arch-

terms derived from rank

• archdiocese
• archeparch
• archmarshal
• archdruid
• archdruidess
• archbish
• archpriest
• archeparchate
• archeparchy
• archabbey
• archprelate
• archpresbyter
• archabbot
• archduke
• archduke
• archchancellor
• archfiend
• archcommander
• archgrandmaster
• archmaster
• archgovernor
• archking
• archqueen
• archchief
• archchemic
• archpriest
• archchamberlain
• archflamen
• arch-poet
• archtreasurer
• archduchess
• archdean
• archbishop
• archchancellor
• archprimate
• archlector
• archsodality

terms derived from leading

• archantagonist
• archmodernist
• archcompetitor
• archbutler
• archpirate
• archrogue
• archleader
• archpractitioner
• archmurderer
• archdemon
• arch-heretic
• archdeceiver
• archdevil
• archpaladin
• archconspirator
• archdespot
• archfiend
• archnemesis
• archtraitor
• archrival
• archvillainess
• archbasilica
• archsegregationist
• archenemy
• archchaplain
• archenemy
• arch-rival
• archrogue
• archfoe

terms derived from intensifying

• archfool
• archracist
• archnationalist
• archconservatism
• arch-heretical
• archfiend
• archconservative
• archconservative
• archcriminal
• archliberal
• archimperialist
• arch-sexist
• archliberal
• arch-sexist
• archenmity

terms derived from powerful

• archwife
• archvillain
• archmagician
• archwitch
• archmage
• archmagus
• archwizard

terms derived from first

• archangel
• archdevil
• arch-heresy
• archconfraternity
• archsin
• archangelical

Related terms

• -arch

Translations

chief, highest, most extreme

• Bulgarian: архи- (arhi-), най- (naj-)
• Chinese:

  Cantonese: 總／总 (yue) (zung²), 大 (yue) (daai⁶)

  Mandarin: 總／总 (zh) (zǒng-), 大 (zh) (dà-)

• Czech: arci- (cs)
• Danish: ærke-
• Dutch: aarts- (nl)
• Faroese: erki-
• Finnish: arkki- (fi), peri- (fi)
• French: archi- (fr)
• German: erz- (de)
• Greek: αρχι- (el) (archi-)
• Hebrew: ארכי (arkhi)
• Hungarian: fő- (hu)
• Icelandic: erki-
• Irish: ard- (ga)
• Japanese: 大 (ja) (dai)
• Korean: 대 (ko) (dae)
• Luxembourgish: äerz-
• Norwegian: erke-
• Old Norse: erki-
• Polish: arcy- (pl), archi- (pl)
• Portuguese: arqui- (pt)
• Russian: архи- (ru) (arxi-), сверх- (ru) (sverx-), наи- (ru) (nai-)
• Serbo-Croatian: nad-
• Spanish: archi- (es), arqui-, arzo-
• Swedish: ärke- (sv)
• Turkish: baş-
• Vietnamese: tổng (vi)
• Welsh: arch-

Anagrams

• Char, Rach, char, rach

Welsh

Etymology

From Latin archi- or English arch-. Cognate with Cornish argh-.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /arχ/

Prefix

arch-

1. great, chief, arch-, super-

   ‎arch- + ‎angel (“angel”) → ‎archangel (“archangel”)

   ‎arch- + ‎marchnad (“market”) → ‎archfarchnad (“supermarket”)

   ‎arch- + ‎esgobaeth (“bishopric”) → ‎archesgobaeth (“archbishopric, primacy”)

Derived terms

Welsh terms prefixed with arch-

Mutation

Welsh mutation
radical	soft	nasal	h-prothesis
arch-	unchanged	unchanged	harch-
Note: Some of these forms may be hypothetical. Not every possible mutated form of every word actually occurs.

References

R. J. Thomas, G. A. Bevan, P. J. Donovan, A. Hawke et al., editors (1950–present), “arch-”, in Geiriadur Prifysgol Cymru Online (in Welsh), University of Wales Centre for Advanced Welsh & Celtic Studies