: 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
Said to be the largest limestone arch in North America, the 215-foot-tall formation was created by erosion.—Lydia Mansel, Southern Living, 8 Sep. 2025 The palatial property looks like it has been uprooted from Italy with terracotta tiles on the roof and rows of Renaissance arches.—Caroline Reid, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Verb
Liriope has long, slender leaves that arch over like a fountain.—Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Sep. 2025 While keeping your lower back pressed into the chair, arch your upper back over the top of the chair.—Jenny McCoy, Outside, 31 Aug. 2025
Adjective
He is joined by an A List cast on Masters of the Universe including Morena Baccarin, Kristen Wiig, Idris Elba and Jared Leto who plays He-Man's arch-enemy Skeletor.—Caroline Reid, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025 The Barstool Sports founder attended University of Michigan, Ohio State's arch rival, and has since become a high-profile backer of the Wolverines' football team.—Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 30 Aug. 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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