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archi- / arch-

chief, principal, first

Greek · archi- (ἀρχι-)

Greek archi- or arch- means "chief" or "first". An archbishop outranks bishops, an archenemy is the chief enemy, an architect is the chief builder, an archetype is the first pattern.

Memory trick

ARCH is the top of a gateway: the chief stone that holds everything.

Words from this root