arch

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   behavior or attitude characteristic of those who treat others with condescension

   They spoke in an arch tone to anyone they thought was inferior to them.

2. 2
   noun

   a curved masonry construction for spanning an opening and supporting the weight above it

   Arches were used to hold up ancient aqueducts.

3. 3
   noun

   a passageway under a curved masonry construction

   they built a triumphal arch to memorialize their victory

4. 4
   verb

   to form an arch or curve

   The dancer's back arches.

5. 5
   noun

   Any place covered by an arch; an archway.

   to pass into the arch of a bridge

6. 6
   verb

   To form into an arch shape.

   The cat arched its back.

7. 7
   adj

   Knowing, clever, mischievous.

   I attempted to hide my emotions, but an arch remark escaped my lips.

8. 8
   adj

   Principal; primary.

   They were arch enemies.

Etymology

Etymology tree Ancient Greek ἄρχω (árkhō) Ancient Greek ᾰ̓ρχῐ- (ărkhĭ-) Proto-Indo-European *teḱ- Proto-Indo-European *tetḱ- Proto-Indo-European *-ō Proto-Indo-European *tétḱō Proto-Hellenic *téktōn Ancient Greek τέκτων (téktōn) Ancient Greek ἀρχιτέκτων (arkhitéktōn)bor. Latin architectus Proto-Indo-European *-tew-? Proto-Indo-European *-r-eh₂? Latin -tūra Latin architectūralbor. French architecturebor. English architectureclip. English arch Clipping of architecture.