archon

C2 Topic:Law & Government

US /ˈɑɹ.kɑn/ UK /ˈɑː.kən/ See IPA manual

Freq #69443

Meanings

1

noun
one of the chief magistrates of ancient Athens

The archon presided over the hearing and carried out the duties assigned to his office.
2

noun
a ruler, governor, or other person holding sovereign authority

The province's archon answered directly to the imperial court.
3

noun
in some Gnostic systems, a supernatural power believed to govern part of the material cosmos

The text portrays each archon as an obstacle confronting the ascending soul.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · one of the chief... chief magistrateofficial

2 noun · a ruler, governor, or other... ruler governor

3 noun · in some gnostic systems, a... cosmic ruler

Opposites

subject

Word family

Forms archons

Derived forms archonship

Related forms magistrate governorGnosticism

Etymology

Borrowed from Ancient Greek arkhon, 'ruler' or 'magistrate,' the noun use of the present participle of arkhein, 'to rule' or 'to be first.' In classical Athens, archon became the title of each of several principal civic magistrates.

Topics

Law & Government

External links

# archon

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ˈɑɹ.kɑn/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈɑː.kən/
**Frequency rank:** 69443

## Meanings
1. one of the chief magistrates of ancient Athens
2. a ruler, governor, or other person holding sovereign authority
3. in some Gnostic systems, a supernatural power believed to govern part of the material cosmos

## Examples
- The archon presided over the hearing and carried out the duties assigned to his office.
- The province's archon answered directly to the imperial court.
- The text portrays each archon as an obstacle confronting the ascending soul.

## Synonyms
- chief magistrate
- ruler
- governor

## Antonyms
- subject

## Derived Forms
- archonship

## Related Forms
- magistrate
- governor
- Gnosticism

## Etymology
Borrowed from Ancient Greek arkhon, 'ruler' or 'magistrate,' the noun use of the present participle of arkhein, 'to rule' or 'to be first.' In classical Athens, archon became the title of each of several principal civic magistrates.

## Topics
- Law & Government

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