Part 342

spoke his request with so arch a leer. Tatler.

Arch, n. [See Arch-, pref.] A chief. [Obs.]

My worthy arch and patron comes to-night. Shak.

-arch (&?;). [Gr. 'archo`s chief, commander, 'a`rchein to rule. See Arch, a.] A suffix meaning a ruler, as in monarch (a sole ruler).

Ar*chæ"an (&?;), a. [Gr. 'archai^os ancient, fr. 'archh` beginning.] Ancient; pertaining to the earliest period in geological history.

Ar*chæ"an, n. (Geol.) The earliest period in geological period, extending up to the Lower Silurian. It includes an Azoic age, previous to the appearance of life, and an Eozoic age, including the earliest forms of life.

This is equivalent to the formerly accepted term Azoic, and to the Eozoic of Dawson.

Ar`chæ*og"ra*phy (&?;), n. [Gr. &?; ancient + -graphy.] A description of, or a treatise on, antiquity or antiquities.

Ar`chæ*o*lith"ic (&?;), a. [Gr. 'archai^os ancient + liqiko`s pertaining to a stone.] (Archæol.) Of or pertaining to the earliest Stone age; -- applied to a prehistoric period preceding the Paleolithic age.

Ar`chæ*o*lo"gi*an (&?;), n. An archæologist.

{ Ar`chæ*o*log"ic (&?;), Ar`chæ*o*log"ic*al (&?;), } Relating to archæology, or antiquities; as, archæological researches. -- Ar`*chæ*o*log"ic*al*ly, adv.

Ar`chæ*ol"o*gist (&?;), n. One versed in archæology; an antiquary. Wright.

Ar`chæ*ol"o*gy (&?;), n. [Gr. &?;; 'archai^os ancient (fr. 'archh` beginning) + &?; discourse, &?; to speak.] The science or study of antiquities, esp. prehistoric antiquities, such as the remains of buildings or monuments of an early epoch, inscriptions, implements, and other relics, written manuscripts, etc.

||Ar`chæ*op"te*ryx (&?;), n. [Gr. 'archai^os ancient + pte`ryx wing.] (Paleon.) A fossil bird, of the Jurassic period, remarkable for having a long tapering tail of many vertebræ with feathers along each side, and jaws armed with teeth, with other reptilian characteristics.

Ar`chæ*o*stom"a*tous (&?;), a. [Gr. 'archai^os ancient + sto`ma mouth.] (Biol.) Applied to a gastrula when the blastopore does not entirely close up.

Ar`chæ*o*zo"ic (&?;), a. [Gr. 'archai^os ancient + zw^,on animal.] (Zoöl.) Like or belonging to the earliest forms of animal life.

Ar*cha"ic (&?;), a. [Gr. 'archai:ko`s old-fashioned, fr. 'archai^os ancient.] Of or characterized by antiquity or archaism; antiquated; obsolescent.

Ar*cha"ic*al (&?;), a. Archaic. [R.] -- Ar*cha"ic*al*ly, adv.

Ar"cha*ism (&?;), n. [Gr. 'archai:smo`s, fr. 'archai^os ancient, fr. 'archh` beginning: cf. F. archaïsme. See Arch, a.] 1. An ancient, antiquated, or old-fashioned, word, expression, or idiom; a word or form of speech no longer in common use.

2. Antiquity of style or use; obsoleteness.

A select vocabulary corresponding (in point of archaism and remoteness from ordinary use) to our Scriptural vocabulary. De Quincey.

Ar"cha*ist, n. 1. Am antiquary.

2. One who uses archaisms.

Ar`cha*is"tic (&?;), a. Like, or imitative of, anything archaic; pertaining to an archaism.

Ar"cha*ize (&?;), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Archaized (&?;); p. pr. & vb. n. Archaizing.] [Gr. 'archai:`zein.] To make appear archaic or antique. Mahaffy.

Arch`an"gel (&?;), n. [L. archangelus, Gr. 'archa`ggelos: cf. OF. archangel, F. archange. See Arch-, pref., and Angel.] 1. A chief angel; one high in the celestial hierarchy. Milton.

2. (Bot.) A term applied to several different species of plants (Angelica archangelica, Lamium album, etc.).

Arch`an*gel"ic (&?;), a. [Cf. F. archangélique.] Of or pertaining to archangels; of the nature of, or resembling, an archangel. Milton.