: having (such) a point or (so many) points of origin
endarch
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As a prefix, arch- appears in a number of titles referring to positions of superiority, such as archduke and archbishop; it can also mean "chief" (as in archnemesis) or "extreme" (archconservative). It comes from the Greek verb archein, meaning "to begin or to rule."
Noun
There was a slight arch to her eyebrows.
an arch in the cat's back Verb
The cat arched its back.
She arched her eyebrows in surprise.
A tree arches over the road.
She arched backward to begin the exercise. Adjective
a politician known for his arch humor
The novel is never mocking or arch in its tone.
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Noun
Most extra-large models are far too wide in the toe box, and too roomy in the arch.—The Editors, Outside Online, 13 Feb. 2025 Meanwhile the arches present in the shelving nods to the factory’s furnaces, and the display cases take inspiration from trunks that preciously carried Baccarat pieces to the World Fair on stagecoaches throughout the 19th century.—Marissa Muller, WWD, 12 Feb. 2025
Verb
Weeping varieties like the burgundy ‘Crimson Queen’ or green-leafed ‘Waterfall’ work nicely because the branches naturally arch down like an umbrella.—Luke Miller, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Jan. 2025 The plants and lights continue up the wall and arch over her TV.—Claire Hoppe Norgaard, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Feb. 2025
Adjective
Martin Amis both suffered from the curse of Englishness and became its archest commentator.—Rachel Cusk, Harper's Magazine, 19 Feb. 2025 Another problem is atrophy of the lower extremities, including weakness in the arch muscle of the foot.—Deborah Vankin, Los Angeles Times, 18 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for arch
Word History
Etymology
Noun and Verb
Middle English arche, from Anglo-French, from Vulgar Latin *arca, from Latin arcus — more at arrow
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
Noun combining form
Middle English -arche, from Anglo-French & Late Latin & Latin; Anglo-French -arche, from Late Latin -archa, from Latin -arches, -archus, from Greek -archēs, -archos, from archein
: an anatomical structure that resembles an arch in form or function: as
a
: either of two vaulted portions of the bony structure of the foot that impart elasticity to it:
(1)
: a longitudinal arch supported posteriorly by the basal tuberosity of the calcaneus and anteriorly by the heads of the metatarsal bones
(2)
: a transverse arch consisting of the metatarsals and first row of tarsals and resulting from elevation of the central anterior portion of the median longitudinal arch
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