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Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionaryarch- I prefix ETYMOLOGY Middle English arche-, arch-, from Old English & Anglo-French; Old English arce-, from Late Latin arch- & Latin archi-; Anglo-French arch-, from Late Latin arch- & Latin archi-, from Greek arch-, archi-, from archein to begin, rule; akin to Greek archē beginning, rule, archos ruler 1. chief : principal archfiend2. extreme : most fully embodying the qualities of the kind archconservative II ⇨ see archi- English Etymologyarch 1. arch (n.) c.1300, from O.Frhttp://O.Fr. arche "arch of a bridge," from L. arcus (see arc). Replaced native bow (n.1). Transferred by 1590 to anything having this form (eyebrows, etc.). The verb meaning "to curve" is from 1620s. Related: Archway (1802). 2. arch (adj.) 1540s, "chief, principal," from prefix arch- (from Gk. arkhos "chief;" see archon); used in 12c. archangel, etc., but extended to so many derogatory uses (arch-rogue, arch-knave, etc.) that it acquired a meaning of "roguish, mischievous," since softened to "saucy" (1660s). Also found in archwife (late 14c.) "A wife of a superior order." Oxford Collocations Dictionary for Students of EnglishOxford Collocations dictionary for students of Englisharch noun ADJ. pointed, round, semi-circular | brick, iron, masonry, stone | monumental, triumphal | Gothic, Romanesque, etc. | proscenium, railway an old theatre with a proscenium arch Mean little houses clustered under the railway arches. VERB + ARCH build, erect This huge triumphal arch was erected at the beginning of this century. | form, make The branches of the trees formed an arch over the bench. PREP. beneath an/the ~, through an/the ~, under an/the ~ We rode under the arch. Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary-牛津双解-OALD7arch-arch- / B:tF; NAmE B:rtF / combining form (in nouns 构成名词) main; most important or most extreme 主要的；最重要的；极端的: archbishop 大主教 arch-enemy 主要敌人 Webster's Third New International Dictionary, Unabridgedarch-I. \|ärch, |ȧch, but |ärk or |ȧk in “archangel” and derivatives\ prefixEtymology: Middle English arche-, arch-, from Old English & Old French; Old English arce-, erce-, from Late Latin arch- & Latin archi-, from Greek arch-, archi-; Old French arch-, arche-, from Late Latin arch- & Latin archi- — more at archi-1. : chief : principal < archangel > < archbishop > < archdiocese > < archduke > < archpillar >2. : preeminent : extreme : most fully embodying the qualities of his or its kind < archantiquary > < archcapitalist > < archfool > < archinfamy > < archphilosopher > < archpuritan > < archrogue >3. : first in time < archfather >: primitive < archform >II. — see archi-

Arch Latin English From Late English Greek C