Etymology
Advertisement

archaic (adj.)

1810, from or by influence of French archaique (1776), ultimately from Greek arkhaikos "old-fashioned," from arkhaios "ancient, old-fashioned, antiquated, primitive," from arkhē "beginning, origin," verbal noun of arkhein "to be the first," hence "to begin" and "to rule" (see archon). Not merely crude, the archaic has "a rudeness and imperfection implying the promise of future advance" [Century Dictionary]. Archaical is attested from 1799.

Entries linking to archaic

archon (n.)

one of the nine chief magistrates of ancient Athens, 1650s, from Greek arkhon "ruler, commander, chief, captain," noun use of present participle of arkhein "be the first," thence "to begin, begin from or with, make preparation for;" also "to rule, lead the way, govern, rule over, be leader of," a word of uncertain origin.

archaism (n.)

1640s, "retention of what is old and obsolete," from Modern Latin archaismus, from Greek arkhaismos, from arkhaizein "to copy the ancients" (in language, etc.); see archaic. Meaning "that which is archaic," especially "an archaic word or expression," is by 1748.

archaistic (adj.)

"affectedly archaic," 1847; see archaic + -istic. Related: Archaist (n.), 1851.

updated on January 30, 2019

Advertisement
Advertisement

Dictionary entries near archaic

archaeoastronomy

archaeological

archaeologist

archaeology

archaeopteryx

archaic

archaism

archaistic

archangel

archangelic

archbishop

© 2001-2023 Douglas Harper