arch1
/ɑːtʃ
/
- The arches supporting the weight above still held as strong as the day they were built.
- The primary structure of steel arches was chosen to span a cavernous underground cistern, part of the city's drainage system, and avoid underwater foundations.
Synonyms
- That feature most symbolic of entrance, the triumphal arch, is to be found only at the foot of the Capitol, where the ancient texts place it.
- Pusading's ornamental arch has a pair of stone lions and the stone wall facing them was apparently built to block their vision.
- The Corinthia consists of two curving towers, one slightly taller than the other, linked by a cavernous reception area topped by a triumphal arch.
- The Helium filled balloons which had formed an arch of honour over the entrance gate were tied to the two coaches and accompanying cars to make for a colourful entryway.
- At the church entrance John's rowing companions formed an arch of oars, under which John's remains passed.
- Under the arch of her eyebrows, her wide brown eyes glowed with their vague hint of secrecy, their quiet incandescence.
Synonyms
- Start off by massaging your entire foot - heel, arch and toes.
- Flat feet, low arches, and loose ligaments also contribute to the formation of bunions.
- Most of it's standard - obviously if you spend a lot of time crouched over, you'll have a sore back - but I'm slightly worried that the arches of my feet hurt.
- And the tree grew thick, leafy branches that arched over the boy.
- But the reward was generous - a tremulous rainbow arched over the mountains, shaggy with greenery.
- All of a sudden, the sky cleared, became blue and a perfect rainbow arched over me with one end in the sand.
- Larry glanced at Adam, eyebrows arching in surprise.
- Louis took the letter, his eyebrows arching in surprise, and thanked the secretary.
- Her face was pale, very pale - her golden eyebrows slightly arched in surprise as she saw me.
Synonyms
Origin
Middle English: from Old French arche, based on Latin arcus 'bow'.
arc from Late Middle English:
A number of English words comes from Latin arcus ‘a bow, arch, or curve’, among them arc, arcade (late 17th century), and arch (Middle English). Arc was originally a term for the path of the sun or other celestial objects from horizon to horizon. Given the shape of a bow for shooting arrows, it should not be surprising that archer (Middle English) has the same Latin source. Another meaning of arch, ‘chief or principal’ (as in archbishop (Old English) or arch-enemy (mid 16th century)), has a different origin, coming from Greek arkhos ‘a chief or ruler’. This Greek word can also be seen in anarchy (mid 16th century), which literally means ‘the state of having no ruler’, in architect (mid 16th century) from archi and tektōn ‘builder’, and archipelago (early 16th century) from archi and pelagos ‘sea’. This was originally used as a proper name for the Aegean Sea; the general sense ‘group of islands’ arose because the Aegean Sea is remarkable for its large numbers of islands.
Rhymes
arch2
/ɑːtʃ/- If my arch tone suggests some skepticism about his sincerity, it's not meant to.
- Instinctive, impulsive melodies meet melancholia and melodrama in gay tales of arch commentary and frank observation.
- They have made six shimmering albums packed with arch observations, yet their world remains small, their vision unique.
Synonyms
Derivatives
archly
/ adverb ...- ‘You will observe,’ wrote Jawaharlal Nehru archly to a Cabinet colleague, ‘that we have disturbed the hornet's nest and I believe most of us are likely to be badly stung.’
- ‘Of course I have,’ she countered archly, ‘you just forgot.’
- ‘He thinks it's ostentatious,’ says Boss archly.
archness
/ noun ...- The archness doesn't really get in the way of the crime fighting, but it does lift this book from potentially boring to perfectly diversionary summer reading.
- There is no archness in the presentation of this stuff; it does not read with a hint of irony, it has no sly jokes between the lines, no punchlines whatsoever.
- I found this a satisfying device, teetering on archness, but successful in maintaining a playful tone.
Origin
Mid 17th century: from arch-, by association with the sense 'rogue' in combinations such as arch-scoundrel.