archaeo-, archeo-, archae-, arche-, archa-, archi-, -arch

Any of a group of microorganisms that resemble bacteria but are different from them in certain aspects of their chemical structure, such as the composition of their cell walls; archaebacterium: Some scientists believe that archaea were the earliest forms of cellular life.

In botany, a plant that existed in prehistoric times: Archaeophytes were introduced to a region by peopled and became adapted to the area before 1500 C.E..

A fossil bird, of the Jurassic period: An archaeopteryx was remarkable for having a long tapering tail of many vertebrae with feathers along each side, and jaws armed with teeth, including other reptilian characteristics.

A fossil bird of the genus Archaeornis: An archaeornis is an extinct primitive toothed bird with a long feathered tail and three free clawed digits on both of its wings.

The time from 3,800 million years to 2,500 million years ago: Archaeozoic is the era when the Earth's crust formed and unicellular organisms were the earliest forms of life.

A scientist who studies animal bones in order to calculate the minimum numbers of individuals belonging to each animal species found: An archaeozoologist appraises their size, age, gender, stature, dentition, and whether the bones have any marks from implements implying butchering and eating.

Archaeozoologists analyze the animal remains from different parts of a site in order to understand some of the internal organizations of the settlements, while comparisons between sites within a region may show how different or similar the areas were.

The study of animal remains, especially bones, from archaeological contexts: Archaeozoology involves the identification and analysis of animal species as an aid to reconstructing human diets, determining the impact of animals on past economies, and in understanding the environment at the time the remains were deposited.

1. Referring to the characteristics of a much earlier period; antiquated: There are archaic manners and notions which are no longer acceptable in these modern times.
2. In a linguistic form, commonly used in an earlier time but rare in present-day usage except to suggest the older time, as in religious rituals or historical novels: Examples of archaic language usages include the following: "thou", "wast", "methinks", and "forsooth".
3. Depicting the earliest stage; prior to full development: There was an archaic period of psychoanalytic research.

The company had to update its archaic computers because they were incapable of handling all of the data that was being installed into them.

4. A reference to or designating the style of the fine arts: There are some archaic paintings and sculptures that were developed in Greece from the middle of the 7th to the early 5th century B.C., primarily characterized by an increased emphasis on the human figure in action with naturalistic proportions and anatomical structures. There are also simplicity of volumes, forms, or designs, and the evolution of a definitive style for the narrative treatment of subject matters.
5. A term used to describe an early stage in the development of civilization: In New World chronology, an archaic period existed just before the shift from hunting, gathering, and fishing to agricultural cultivation, pottery development, and village settlement.

Between 8000-1000 B.C., there were a series of archaic achievements which characterized certain periods: Early archaic 8000-5000 B.C., mixture of big-game hunting tradition with early archaic cultures; also marked by post-glacial climatic change in association with the disappearance of Late Pleistocene big game animals. The middle archaic cultures were from 5000-2000 B.C., and a late archaic period from 2000-1000 B.C.

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Relating to a very early form of a human being, anatomically distinct from a modern human: Neanderthals in Europe and Solo man in Asia are usually classed as archaic humans, or archaic Homo sapiens. According to one model of human evolution, widely separated but interbreeding archaic groups in different parts of the world evolved independently into today's physiologically distinct geographic populations.

A series of jugs and bowls of the early 13th to late 16th centuries in Tuscan and Italian towns: The archaic maiolica were decorated with geometric motifs, leaves, and other forms outlined in brown and set into green or brown backgrounds.

The archaic maiolica were sold as far away as Spain, North Africa, and northern Europe. There seems to be a connection to earlier Byzantine and Persian products.

Referring to how something is exceedingly old or belongs to the distant past or from an ancient period in history: Using his archaically primitive camera, Jim tried to take photos of the lake, but gave up soon due to his camera not functioning any more!

An outdated word or expression that is not generally used any more: An archaism is mainly used in literary writing, like in the plays by William Shakespeare.

Examples of archaisms are "thou", "methinks", "museums", "hark", "hither", "howbeit", and "doth".

1. An individual who studies very old things: Jim's uncle is an archaist who goes to all the antique stores he can find and does research on the items he collects.
2. A person who utilizes old-fashioned terms and expressions in language: Susan was an archaist who somehow had an affinity towards interesting and outdated words and used them everyday when talking to her family and friends!

The commencement of living matter from non-living matter; abiogenesis: In Peggy's biology class, she learned about archebiosis as being the very beginning of living matter and substances.

1. The original model from which later things evolved or developed: Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho is considered to be an archecentric film, or the basis for many horror films that were developed later.
2. In ornithology, pertaining to the simple kind of intestine: Jane wondered if birds still had archecentric body parts, or if such parts developed over time.