: having (such) a point or (so many) points of origin
endarch
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As a prefix, arch- appears in a number of titles referring to positions of superiority, such as archduke and archbishop; it can also mean "chief" (as in archnemesis) or "extreme" (archconservative). It comes from the Greek verb archein, meaning "to begin or to rule."
Noun
There was a slight arch to her eyebrows.
an arch in the cat's back Verb
The cat arched its back.
She arched her eyebrows in surprise.
A tree arches over the road.
She arched backward to begin the exercise. Adjective
a politician known for his arch humor
The novel is never mocking or arch in its tone.
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Noun
Lift the arch of your feet upwards without curling your toes or moving your heels.—Tim Petrie, Dpt, Verywell Health, 21 Apr. 2025 Some might offer better support than others or have a more natural resting spot for thumbs, but to greater or lesser extents, a good mouse is sculpted to fit the arch of the typical human hand.—Matt Kamen, Wired News, 20 Apr. 2025
Verb
In the bottom of the first inning on Opening Day 2023, Aaron Judge clobbered a high, arching narrative over the center-field wall, and that was it.—Grant Brisbee, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2025 This tough shrub puts on a stunning spring display, with showy rose-like blooms lining gracefully arching branches.—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 13 Apr. 2025
Adjective
Crocs Brooklyn Low-Wedge Platform Sandals Over 13,000 shoppers have awarded these Crocs platform sandals a five-star rating, praising their arch support and versatility.—Emily Weaver, People.com, 24 Apr. 2025 There are several lacing styles that professionals use to modify how their cleat fits to their feet though, like wrapping one’s laces around the instep to provide some extra arch support.—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 22 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for arch
Word History
Etymology
Noun and Verb
Middle English arche, from Anglo-French, from Vulgar Latin *arca, from Latin arcus — more at arrow
Middle English arche-, arch-, from Old English & Anglo-French; Old English arce-, from Late Latin arch- & Latin archi-; Anglo-French arch-, from Late Latin arch- & Latin archi-, from Greek arch-, archi-, from archein to begin, rule; akin to Greek archē beginning, rule, archos ruler
Noun combining form
Middle English -arche, from Anglo-French & Late Latin & Latin; Anglo-French -arche, from Late Latin -archa, from Latin -arches, -archus, from Greek -archēs, -archos, from archein
: an anatomical structure that resembles an arch in form or function: as
a
: either of two vaulted portions of the bony structure of the foot that impart elasticity to it:
(1)
: a longitudinal arch supported posteriorly by the basal tuberosity of the calcaneus and anteriorly by the heads of the metatarsal bones
(2)
: a transverse arch consisting of the metatarsals and first row of tarsals and resulting from elevation of the central anterior portion of the median longitudinal arch
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