Ar"chi*volt (&?;), n. [F. archivolte, fr. It. archivolto; pref. archi- + volto vault, arch. See Vault.] (Arch.) (a) The architectural member surrounding the curved opening of an arch, corresponding to the architrave in the case of a square opening. (b) More commonly, the molding or other ornaments with which the wall face of the voussoirs of an arch is charged.
{ Arch"lute (&?;), Arch"i*lute (&?;), } n. [Cf. F. archiluth, It. arciliuto.] (Mus.) A large theorbo, or double-necked lute, formerly in use, having the bass strings doubled with an octave, and the higher strings with a unison.
Arch"ly (&?;), adv. In an arch manner; with attractive slyness or roguishness; slyly; waggishly.
Archly the maiden smiled.
Longfellow.
Arch`mar"shal (&?;), n. [G. erzmarschall. See Arch-, pref.] The grand marshal of the old German empire, a dignity that to the Elector of Saxony.
Arch"ness, n. The quality of being arch; cleverness; sly humor free from malice; waggishness. Goldsmith.
Ar"chon (&?;), n. [L. archon, Gr. &?;, &?;, ruler, chief magistrate, p. pr. of &?; to be first, to rule.] (Antiq.) One of the chief magistrates in ancient Athens, especially, by preëminence, the first of the nine chief magistrates. -- Ar*chon"tic (&?;), a.
Ar"chon*ship, n. The office of an archon. Mitford.
Ar"chon*tate (&?;), n. [Cf. F. archontat.] An archon's term of office. Gibbon.
Ar"chonts (&?;), n. pl. [Gr. 'a`rchwn, p. pr. See Archon.] (Zoöl.) The group including man alone.
Arch`prel"ate (&?;), n. [Pref. arch- + prelate.] An archbishop or other chief prelate.
Arch`pres"by*ter (&?;), n. Same as Archpriest.
Arch`pres"by*ter*y (&?;), n. [Pref. arch- + presbytery.] The absolute dominion of presbytery. Milton.
Arch`priest" (&?;), n. A chief priest; also, a kind of vicar, or a rural dean.
Arch`pri"mate (&?;), n. [Pref. arch- + primate.] The chief primate. Milton.
Arch" stone` (&?;). A wedge-shaped stone used in an arch; a voussoir.
Arch`trai"tor (&?;), n. [Pref. arch- + traitor.] A chief or transcendent traitor. I. Watts.
Arch`treas"ur*er (?; 135), n. [Pref. arch- + treasurer.] A chief treasurer. Specifically, the great treasurer of the German empire.
Arch"way (&?;), n. A way or passage under an arch.
Arch`wife" (&?;), n. [Pref. arch- + wife.] A big, masculine wife. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Arch"wise (&?;), adv. Arch- shaped.
Arch"y (&?;), a. Arched; as, archy brows.
*ar"chy (&?;). [Gr. &?;, fr. &?; chief. See Arch-, pref.] A suffix properly meaning a rule, ruling, as in monarchy, the rule of one only. Cf. -arch.
Ar"ci*form (&?;), a. [L. arcus bow + -form.] Having the form of an arch; curved.
Arc"o*graph (&?;), n. [L. arcus (E. arc) + -graph.] An instrument for drawing a circular arc without the use of a central point; a cyclograph.
Arc*ta"tion (&?;), n. [L. arctus shut in, narrow, p. p. of arcere to shut in: cf. F. arctation.] (Med.) Constriction or contraction of some natural passage, as in constipation from inflammation.
Arc"tic (&?;), a. [OE. artik, OF. artique, F. arctique, L. arcticus, fr. Gr. &?;, fr. &?; a bear, also a northern constellation so called; akin to L. ursus bear, Skr. &?;ksha.] Pertaining to, or situated under, the northern constellation called the Bear; northern; frigid; as, the arctic pole, circle, region, ocean; an arctic expedition, night, temperature.
The arctic circle is a lesser circle, parallel to the equator, 23° 28′ from the north pole. This and the antarctic circle are called the polar circles, and between these and the poles lie the frigid zones. See Zone.
Arc"tic, n. 1. The arctic circle.