Part 341

Electric arc, Voltaic arc. See under Voltaic.

Ar*cade" (&?;), n. [F. arcade, Sp. arcada, LL. arcata, fr. L. arcus bow, arch.] 1. (Arch.) (a) A series of arches with the columns or piers which support them, the spandrels above, and other necessary appurtenances; sometimes open, serving as an entrance or to give light; sometimes closed at the back (as in the cut) and forming a decorative feature. (b) A long, arched building or gallery.

2. An arched or covered passageway or avenue.

Ar*cad"ed (&?;), a. Furnished with an arcade.

Ar*ca"di*a (&?;), n. [L. Arcadia, Gr. &?;.] 1. A mountainous and picturesque district of Greece, in the heart of the Peloponnesus, whose people were distinguished for contentment and rural happiness.

2. Fig.: Any region or scene of simple pleasure and untroubled quiet.

Where the cow is, there is Arcadia. J. Burroughs.

{ Ar*ca"di*an (&?;), Ar*ca"dic (&?;), } a. [L. Arcadius, Arcadicus, fr. Arcadia: cf. F. Arcadien, Arcadique.] Of or pertaining to Arcadia; pastoral; ideally rural; as, Arcadian simplicity or scenery.

Ar*cane" (&?;), a. [L. arcanus.] Hidden; secret. [Obs.] "The arcane part of divine wisdom." Berkeley.

||Ar*ca"num (&?;), n.; pl. Arcana (&?;). [L., fr. arcanus closed, secret, fr. arca chest, box, fr. arcere to inclose. See Ark.] 1. A secret; a mystery; -- generally used in the plural.

Inquiries into the arcana of the Godhead. Warburton.

2. (Med.) A secret remedy; an elixir. Dunglison.

||Arc`*bou`tant" (&?;), n. [F.] (Arch.) A flying buttress. Gwilt.

Arch (&?;), n. [F. arche, fr. LL. arca, for arcus. See Arc.] 1. (Geom.) Any part of a curved line.

2. (Arch.) (a) Usually a curved member made up of separate wedge-shaped solids, with the joints between them disposed in the direction of the radii of the curve; used to support the wall or other weight above an opening. In this sense arches are segmental, round (i. e., semicircular), or pointed. (b) A flat arch is a member constructed of stones cut into wedges or other shapes so as to support each other without rising in a curve.

Scientifically considered, the arch is a means of spanning an opening by resolving vertical pressure into horizontal or diagonal thrust.

3. Any place covered by an arch; an archway; as, to pass into the arch of a bridge.

4. Any curvature in the form of an arch; as, the arch of the aorta. "Colors of the showery arch." Milton.

Triumphal arch, a monumental structure resembling an arched gateway, with one or more passages, erected to commemorate a triumph.

Arch, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Arched (&?;); p. pr. & vb. n. Arching.] 1. To cover with an arch or arches.

2. To form or bend into the shape of an arch.

The horse arched his neck. Charlesworth.

Arch, v. i. To form into an arch; to curve.

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Arch- (ärch-, except in archangel and one or two other words). [L. arch-, Gr. &?;. See Arch-.] A prefix signifying chief, as in archbuilder, archfiend.

Arch (ärch), a. [See Arch-, pref.] 1. Chief; eminent; greatest; principal.

The most arch act of piteous massacre. Shak.

2. Cunning or sly; sportively mischievous; roguish; as, an arch look, word, lad.