arch-, archi-, -arch

(Greek > Latin: chief, principal leader, first [in position or rank])

I must follow the people. Am I not their leader?
—Benjamin Disraeli (1804-1881)
archabbey, archabbot
The head abbey of a Benedictine congregation.
archangel, archangelic, archangelical
1. An angel of the highest rank.
2. A member of the second-lowest rank in the medieval order of celestial beings, ranking above angels and below principalities.
archbishop, archbishopric
1. A bishop of the highest rank, who heads an archdiocese or an ecclesiastical province.
2. The chief bishop; the highest dignitary in an episcopal church, superintending the bishops of his province; a metropolitan.
archdeacon
1. The chief deacon; originally the chief of the attendants on a bishop, who, through the scope of his duties in relation to the services of the church and the administration of charity, gradually acquired a rank above the priests and next in importance to the bishop.
2. In the English Church, the archdeacon is appointed by, and gives assistance to, the bishop, superintending the rural deans, and holding the lowest ecclesiastical court, with the power of spiritual censure.
archdiocese
The see or jurisdiction of an archbishop.
archduchy (s) (noun), archduchies (pl)
The territory or dominion governed by an archduke an archduchess.
archduke (s) (noun), archdukes (pl)
1. The chief duke: formerly title of the rulers of Austrasia, Lorraine, Brabant, and Austria, being assumed by those of Austria in 1359; now titular dignity of sons of the Emperor of Austria.
2. Etymology: from Latin arch-, "chief" or "highest ranking" + dux, genitive of ducis, "leader, commander"; from ducere, "to lead".
archenemy (s) (noun), archenemies (pl)
A chief enemy or someone's main or worst enemy: In the medieval adventure story Greg was reading, the king and his knights were fighting the archenemy of their land.

For most people, the principle archenemy of their health is cancer.

archibenthic (adjective) (not comparable)
Referring to the bottom of the sea from the edge of the continental shelf to the upper limit of the abyssobenthic zone, at depths of ca. 200 to 1,000 meters: The archibenthic area is the upper section of the benthic region, from the abyssal to the sublittoral region.
archimage (s) (AHR-kuh-mayj) (noun), archimages (pl)
1. A great magician, wizard, or enchanter: Jasmin was told that she had an ancestor in ancient Rome who was an archimage and that people went to him because they were convinced that his prophecies and magical performances were important for their well-being.
2. Etymology: from Greek archi-, "chief, principal" + Greek magos, "magician" and from Latin magi, plural of magus, "magician, learned magician".
A great magician.
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A chief wizard.
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archimagus (s) (noun), archimagi (pl)
1. A great wizard, enchanter, magician.
2. The high priest of the Persian Magi, or the worshipers of fire.
archipelago (s) (noun), archipelagos; archipelagoes (pl)
1. Any sea, or sheet of water, in which there are numerous islands: In her science book, Jill read about the many scattered islands in an ocean termed as archipelagoes.
2. A large group of islands: An example of a cluster of the many land masses smaller than a continent and surrounded by water is the Philippine archipelago.
3. A sea containing a large number of scattered islands; island group; island chain: One intriguing archipelago at the southern point of the Red Sea can be read about in Martin's textbook.

The Aegean Islands, the Bahamas, the Hawaiian Islands, and the Maldives are all typically archipelago, or collections of islands.

architect
1. A master-builder; specifically, a skilled professor of the art of building, whose business it is to prepare the plans of edifices, and exercise a general superintendence over the course of their erection. A naval architect: one who takes the same part in the construction of ships.
2. One who designs and frames any complex structure; especially, the creator; one who arranges elementary materials on a comprehensive plan.
3. From Latin architectus, from Greek arkhitekton, “chief builder” from tekton, “builder”.
architectonic
Of or pertaining to architecture; suited or serviceable for the construction of buildings.
architectural
Of, relating to, or according to, architecture.

Cross references of word families related directly, or indirectly, to: "master, lead, leading, ruler, ruling, govern": -agogic; agon-; -crat; dom-; gov-; magist-; poten-; regi-; tyran-.