n.; pl. Archives [ F. archives, pl., L. archivum, archium, fr. Gr. &unr_; government house, &unr_; &unr_; archives, fr. &unr_; the first place, government. See Archi-, pref. ] 1. pl. The place in which public records or historic documents are kept. [ 1913 Webster ] Our words . . . . become records in God's court, and are laid up in his archives as witnesses. Gov. of Tongue. [ 1913 Webster ] 2. pl. Public records or documents preserved as evidence of facts; as, the archives of a country or family. [ 1913 Webster ] [ Rarely used in sing. ] [ 1913 Webster ] Some rotten archive, rummaged out of some seldom explored press. Lamb. [ 1913 Webster ] Syn. -- Registers; records; chronicles. [ 1913 Webster ] | 