: 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
In Tokyo, the Nakameguro Sakura Matsuri Festival (held mid/late March to early April) brings with it some 800 trees that form a pink arch over the Meguro River.—Kristin Braswell, AFAR Media, 7 Oct. 2025 These are designed to hug your arches, which is great for those who need extra support throughout the day.—Gabriela Garcia, PEOPLE, 6 Oct. 2025
Verb
Such ambiguity works to the film’s advantage, as Leonberg focuses on Indy’s face and lets audiences project our own feelings onto the cocked head, the questioning expression, his brows arched in either curiosity or concern.—Peter Debruge, Variety, 3 Oct. 2025 Old-fashioned abelias with their arching shape need to be cut back to the ground every year.—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 1 Oct. 2025
Adjective
Its cushy sole is also made with a ton of arch support to prevent foot fatigue.—Jasmine Gomez, Travel + Leisure, 7 Oct. 2025 In choosing the former economic security minister as its leader, the Liberal Democratic Party is essentially betting on a swing back to the right to attract the younger voters who have flocked to smaller populist outfits, including the arch-conservative Sanseito party.—Jessica Coacci, Fortune, 4 Oct. 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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