*arch*

a. Lawless; anarchical. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

We are in the habit of calling those bodies of men anarchal which are in a state of effervescence. Landor. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. [ Cf. F. anarchique. ] Pertaining to anarchy; without rule or government; in political confusion; tending to produce anarchy; as, anarchic despotism; anarchical opinions. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. anarchisme. ] The doctrine or practice of anarchists. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. anarchiste. ] An anarch; one who advocates anarchy of aims at the overthrow of civil government. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To reduce to anarchy. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. &unr_;: cf. F. anarchie. See Anarch. ] 1. Absence of government; the state of society where there is no law or supreme power; a state of lawlessness; political confusion. [ 1913 Webster ]

Spread anarchy and terror all around. Cowper. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Hence, confusion or disorder, in general. [ 1913 Webster ]

There being then . . . an anarchy, as I may term it, in authors and their re&unr_;koning of years. Fuller. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Pref. anti- + Gr. &unr_; government. ] Opposition to government in general. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who opposes all government. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. Opposed to all human government. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } Opposed to monarchial government. Bp. Benson. Addison. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. An enemy to monarchial government. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. arche, fr. LL. arca, for arcus. See Arc. ] 1. (Geom.) Any part of a curved line. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Arch.) (a) Usually a curved member made up of separate wedge-shaped solids, with the joints between them disposed in the direction of the radii of the curve; used to support the wall or other weight above an opening. In this sense arches are segmental, round (i. e., semicircular), or pointed. (b) A flat arch is a member constructed of stones cut into wedges or other shapes so as to support each other without rising in a curve. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Scientifically considered, the arch is a means of spanning an opening by resolving vertical pressure into horizontal or diagonal thrust. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Any place covered by an arch; an archway; as, to pass into the arch of a bridge. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. Any curvature in the form of an arch; as, the arch of the aorta. “Colors of the showery arch.” Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

Triumphal arch, a monumental structure resembling an arched gateway, with one or more passages, erected to commemorate a triumph. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Arched p. pr. & vb. n. Arching. ] 1. To cover with an arch or arches. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To form or bend into the shape of an arch. [ 1913 Webster ]

The horse arched his neck. Charlesworth. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To form into an arch; to curve. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ See Arch-, pref. ] 1. Chief; eminent; greatest; principal. [ 1913 Webster ]

The most arch act of piteous massacre. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Cunning or sly; sportively mischievous; roguish; as, an arch look, word, lad. [ 1913 Webster ]

[ He ] spoke his request with so arch a leer. Tatler. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ See Arch-, pref. ] A chief. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

My worthy arch and patron comes to-night. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

[ L. arch-, Gr. 'arch- = 'archi-. See Arch-. ] A prefix signifying chief, as in archbuilder, archfiend. [ 1913 Webster ]

[ Gr. 'archo`s chief, commander, 'a`rchein to rule. See Arch, a. ] A suffix meaning a ruler, as in monarch (a sole ruler). [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Gr. 'archai^os ancient, fr. 'archh` beginning. ] Ancient; pertaining to the earliest period in geological history. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Geol.) The earliest period in geological period, extending up to the Lower Silurian. It includes an Azoic age, previous to the appearance of life, and an Eozoic age, including the earliest forms of life. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ This is equivalent to the formerly accepted term Azoic, and to the Eozoic of Dawson. [ 1913 Webster ]

, n. (Microbiol.) A group of single-celled microorganisms including the methanogens and some halophiles and thermoacidophiles, recognized in the 1970's by C. R. Woese and his colleagues as being a distinct group on the basis of RNA sequences, cell walls, and coenzymes differing from those of other microbes. It is believed to be an ancient form of living organism that evolved separately from the eubacteria and blue-green algae. It is classified as a separate kingdom by some taxonomists. See also The Archaebacteria. [ PJC ]

n. [ Gr. 'archai^os ancient + -graphy. ] A description of, or a treatise on, antiquity or antiquities. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Gr. 'archai^os ancient + liqiko`s pertaining to a stone. ] (Archæol.) Of or pertaining to the earliest Stone age; -- applied to a prehistoric period preceding the Paleolithic age. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. An archæologist. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } Relating to archæology, or antiquities; as, archæological researches. -- Ar`*chæ*o*log"ic*al*ly, adv. [1913 Webster]

n. One versed in archæology; an antiquary. Wright. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. 'archaiologi`a; 'archai^os ancient (fr. 'archh` beginning) + lo`gos discourse, le`gein to speak. ] The science or study of antiquities, esp. prehistoric antiquities, such as the remains of buildings or monuments of an early epoch, inscriptions, implements, and other relics, written manuscripts, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ Gr. 'archai^os ancient + pte`ryx wing. ] (Paleon.) A fossil bird, of the Jurassic period, remarkable for having a long tapering tail of many vertebræ with feathers along each side, and jaws armed with teeth, with other reptilian characteristics. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. an extinct primitive toothed bird with a long feathered tail and three free clawed digits on each wing. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. 1. 1 a subclass of primitive reptilelike fossil birds of the Jurassic or early Cretaceous.
Syn. -- subclass Archaeornithes [ WordNet 1.5 ]

a. [ Gr. 'archai^os ancient + sto`ma mouth. ] (Biol.) Applied to a gastrula when the blastopore does not entirely close up. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Gr. 'archai^os ancient + zw^, on animal. ] (Zool.) Like or belonging to the earliest forms of animal life. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Geol.) formed in or belonging to the earlier of two divisions of the Precambrian era. archaeozoic life forms
Syn. -- archeozoic [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. [ Gr. 'archai^os ancient + zw^, on animal. ] the time from 1.5 billion to 5 billion years ago; the time when the earth's crust formed; a time when only unicellular organisms and the earliest forms of life are present.
Syn. -- Archeozoic, Archeozoic era, Archaeozoic era [ WordNet 1.5 ]

a. [ Gr. 'archai:ko`s old-fashioned, fr. 'archai^os ancient. ] Of or characterized by antiquity or archaism; antiquated; obsolescent. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Archaic. [ R. ] -- Ar*cha"ic*al*ly, adv. [1913 Webster]

n. [ Gr. 'archai:smo`s, fr. 'archai^os ancient, fr. 'archh` beginning: cf. F. archaïsme. See Arch, a. ] 1. An ancient, antiquated, or old-fashioned, word, expression, or idiom; a word or form of speech no longer in common use. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Antiquity of style or use; obsoleteness. [ 1913 Webster ]

A select vocabulary corresponding (in point of archaism and remoteness from ordinary use) to our Scriptural vocabulary. De Quincey. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. Am antiquary. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. One who uses archaisms. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Like, or imitative of, anything archaic; pertaining to an archaism. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Archaized p. pr. & vb. n. Archaizing. ] [ Gr. 'archai:`zein. ] To make appear archaic or antique. Mahaffy. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. archangelus, Gr. 'archa`ggelos: cf. OF. archangel, F. archange. See Arch-, pref., and Angel. ] 1. A chief angel; one high in the celestial hierarchy. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Bot.) A term applied to several different species of plants (Angelica archangelica, Lamium album, etc.). [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cf. F. archangélique. ] Of or pertaining to archangels; of the nature of, or resembling, an archangel. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ AS. arcebisceop, arcebiscop, L. archiepiscopus, fr. Gr. 'archiepi`skopos. See Bishop. ] A chief bishop; a church dignitary of the first class (often called a metropolitan or primate) who superintends the conduct of the suffragan bishops in his province, and also exercises episcopal authority in his own diocese. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ AS. arcebiscoprīce. See -ric. ] The jurisdiction or office of an archbishop; the see or province over which archbishop exercises archiepiscopal authority. [ 1913 Webster ]

A wedge-shaped brick used in the building of an arch. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Pref. arch- + butler. ] A chief butler; -- an officer of the German empire. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. G. erzkämmerer. See Arch-, pref. ] A chief chamberlain; -- an officer of the old German empire, whose office was similar to that of the great chamberlain in England. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. Ger. erzkanzler. See Arch-, pref. ] A chief chancellor; -- an officer in the old German empire, who presided over the secretaries of the court. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Of supreme chemical powers. [ R. ] “The archchemic sun.” Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]