King James Bible Dictionary

An architectural term found only in Ezekiel 40:16, 21, 22, 26, 29. There is no absolute proof that the Israelites employed arches in their buildings. The arch was employed in the building of the pyramids of Egypt. The oldest existing arch is at Thebes, and bears the date B.C. 1350. There are also still found the remains of an arch, known as Robinson's Arch, of the bridge connecting Zion and Moriah. (See TYROPOEON VALLEY.)

'ARCH, noun [See Arc.]

1. A segment or part of a circle. A concave or hollow structure of stone or brick, supported by its own curve. It may be constructed of wood, and supported by the mechanism of the work. This species of structure is much used in bridges.

A vault is properly a board arch

2. The space between two piers of a bridge, when arched; or any place covered with an arch

3. Any curvature, in form of an arch

4. The vault of heaven, or sky.

Triumphal arches are magnificent structures at the entrance of cities, erected to adorn a triumph and perpetuate the memory of the event.

'ARCH, verb transitive To cover with an arch; to form with a curve; as to arch a gate.

'ARCH, verb intransitive To make an arch or arches; as, to arch beneath the sand.

'ARCH, adjective [Latin arcus, a bow; Eng. rogue.]

Cunning; sly; shrewd; waggish; mischievous for sport; mirthful; as we say in popular language, roguish; as an arch lad.

'ARCH, adjective Used also in composition. [Gr. chief.]

Chief; of the first class; principal; as, an arch deed.

Shakespeare uses this word as a noun; 'My worthy arch and patrons; ' but the use is not authorized.

A triumphal arch erected at Rome, and still remaining there, to commemorate the conquest of Judea and the destruction of Jerusalem by the emperor Titus. It was erected after his death, A.D. 91, by the senate and people of Rome. It was a magnificent structure, decorated with bas-reliefs and inscriptions, and is of especial interest because its historic bas-reliefs represent the captors carrying in triumph to Rome the golden candlestick and sacred utensils from the Jewish temple at Jerusalem. From these we obtain our best idea of their shape.

ED.

'ARCHAISM, noun [Gr. ancient, from beginning.]

An ancient or obsolete phrase or expression.

(1 Thessalonians 4:16; Jude 1:9), the prince of the angels.

General references
1 Thessalonians 4:16; Jude 1:9
Angel (1)

ARCHAN'GEL, noun

1. An angel of the highest order; an angel occupying the eighth rank in the celestiai hierarchy.

2. The name of several plants, as the dead-nettle, or lamium; a species of melittis; and the galeopsis or hedge-nettle.

ARCHANGEL'IC, adjective Belonging to archangels.

ARCHAPOS'TATE, noun A chief apostate.

ARCHAPOS'TLE, noun The chief apostle.

ARCH'ARCHITECT, noun The supreme architect.

ARCHBE'ACON, noun The chief beacon, place of prospect or signal.

ARCHBILD'ER, noun Chief builder.

ARCHBISH'OP, noun A chief bishop; a church dignitary of the first class; a metropolitan bishop, who superintends the conduct of the suffragan bishops, in his province, and also exercises episcopal authority in his own diocese.

ARCHBISH'OPRIC, noun [Archbishop and ric, or rick, territory or jurisdiction.]

The jurisdiction or place of an archbishop; the province over which an archbishop exercises authority.

ARCHBOTCH'ER, noun The chief botcher, or mender, ironically.

ARCHBUILD'ER,

ARCHBUT'LER, noun A chief butler; an officer of the German empire, who presents the cup to the emperor, on solemn occasions. This office belongs to the king of Bohemia.

ARCHCHAMBERLAIN, noun A chief chamberlain; an officer of the German empire, whose office is similar to that of the great chamberlain in England. This office belongs to the elector of Brandenburg.

ARCHCH'ANCELLOR, noun A chief chancellor; an officer in the German empire, who presides over the secretaries of the court. Under the first races of French kings, when Germany and Italy belonged to them, three archchancellors were appointed; and this institution gave rise to the three archchancellors now subsisting in German, who are the archbishops of Mentz, of Cologne, and of Treves.

ARCHCH'ANTER, noun The chief chanter, or president of the chanters of a church.

ARCHCHIM'IC, adjective Of supreme chimical powers.

ARCHCONSPIR'ATOR, noun Principal conspirator.

ARCHCOUNT', noun A chief count; a title formerly given to the earl of Flanders, on account of his great riches and power.

ARCHCRIT'IC, noun A chief critic.

ARCHDAP'IFER, noun [Arch, chief, and Latin dapifer, a food-bearer, from daps, meat or a feast, and fero, to carry.]

An officer in the German empire, whose office is, at the coronation of the emperor, to carry the first dish of meat to table on horseback.

ARCHDE'ACON, noun [See Deacon.]

In England, an ecclesiastical dignitary, next in rank below a bishop, who has jurisdiction either over a part or over the whole diocese. He is usually appointed by the bishop, and has an authority originally derived from the bishop, but now independent of him. He has a court, the most inferior of ecclesiastical courts, for hearing ecclesiastical causes, and the punishment of offenders by spiritual censures.

ARCHDE'ACONRY, noun The office, jurisdiction or residence of an archdeacon. In England, every diocese is divided into archdeaconries, of which there are sixty, and each archdeaconry into rural deaneries, and each deanery into parishes.

ARCHDE'ACONSHIP, noun The office of an archdeacon.

ARCHDIVI'NE, noun A principal theologian.

ARCHDRU'ID, noun [See Druid.] A chief druid, or pontiff of the ancient druids.

ARCHDU'CAL, adjective [See Archduke.] Pertaining to an archduke.

ARCHDUCH'ESS, noun [See Duchess.] A title given to the females of the house of Austria.

ARCHDUCH'Y, noun The territory of an archduke or archduchess.

ARCHDU'KE, [See Duke.] A title given to princes of the House of Austria; all the sons being archdukes, and the daughters archduchesses.

ARCHDU'KEDOM, noun The territory or jurisdiction of an archduke or archduchess.

'ARCHED, participle passive Made with an arch or curve; covered with an arch.

Ruler of the people, son of Herod the Great, by Malthace, a Samaritan woman. He was educated along with his brother Antipas at Rome. He inherited from his father a third part of his kingdom viz., Idumea, Judea, and Samaria, and hence is called "king" (Matthew 2:22). It was for fear of him that Joseph and Mary turned aside on their way back from Egypt. Till a few days before his death Herod had named Antipas as his successor, but in his last moments he named Archelaus.

the prince of the people

A ruler of Judea.
Matthew 2:22

(prince of the people), son of Herod the Great by a Samaritan woman, Malthake, and, with his brother Antipas brought up at Rome. At the death of Herod (B.C. 4) his kingdom was divided between his three sons, Herod Antipas, Archelaus and Philip. Archelaus never properly bore the title of king, (Matthew 2:22) but only that of ethnarch. In the tenth year of his reign, or the ninth according to Dion Cassius, i.e. A.D. 6, a complaint was preferred against him by his brothers and his subjects on the ground of his tyranny, in consequence of which he was banished to Vienne in Gaul, where he is generally said to have died.

ARCHEN'EMY, noun A principal enemy.

ARCHEOLOG'ICAL, adjective Pertaining to a treatise or antiquity, or to the knowledge of ancient things.

ARCHEOL'OGY, noun [Gr. ancient, and discourse.]

A discourse an antiquity; learning or knowledge which respects ancient times.

A shooter with the bow (1 Chronicles 10:3). This art was of high antiquity (Genesis 21:20; 27:3). Saul was wounded by the Philistine archers (1 Samuel 31:3). The phrase "breaking the bow" (Hosea 1:5; Jeremiah 49:35) is equivalent to taking away one's power, while "strengthening the bow" is a symbol of its increase (Genesis 49:24). The Persian archers were famous among the ancients (Isaiah 13:18; Jeremiah 49:35; 50:9, 14, 29, 42. (See BOW).

'ARCHER, noun [See Arch and Arc.]

A bowman; one who uses a bow in battle; one who is skilled in the use of the bow and arrow.

'ARCHERESS, noun A female archer.

Practiced by:

Ishmael
Genesis 21:20

Esau
Genesis 27:3

Jonathan
1 Samuel 20:20; 1 Samuel 20:36-37

Sons of Ulam
1 Chronicles 8:40

Philistines
1 Samuel 31:1-3; 1 Chronicles 10:3

Persians
Isaiah 13:17-18

People of Kedar
Isaiah 21:17

Syrians
1 Kings 22:31-34

Israelites
2 Samuel 1:18; 1 Chronicles 5:18; 1 Chronicles 12:2; 2 Chronicles 14:8; 2 Chronicles 26:14; Nehemiah 4:13; Zech 9:13

Lydians
Jeremiah 46:9

In war
Genesis 49:23; Judges 5:11; 1 Samuel 31:3; Isaiah 22:3; Jeremiah 4:29; Jeremiah 51:3; Zech 10:4
Arrow; Armies; Bow; War

[ARMS, ARMOR]

'ARCHERY, noun The use of the bow and arrow; the practice, art or skill of archers; the act of shooting with a bow and arrow.

'ARCHES-COURT, in England, so called from the church of St. Mary le bow (de arcubus, ) whose top is raised of stone pillars built archwise, where it was anciently held, is a court of appeal, in the ecclesiastical polity, the judge of which is called the dean of the arches. This court had jurisdiction over thirteen peculiar parishes in London, belonging to the archbishop of Cantebury; but the office of dean of the arches being united with that of the archbishop's principal office, the dean now receives and determines appeals from the sentence of all inferior courts within the province; and from him lies an appeal to the king in chancery. This and all the principal spiritual courts are now held at Doctors' Commons.

'ARCHETYPAL, adjective Original; constituting a model or pattern.

'ARCHETYPE, noun [Gr. beginning, and form.]

1. The original pattern or model of a work; or the model from which a thing is made; as, a tree is the archetype or pattern of our idea of that tree.

2. Among minters, the standard weight, by which others are adjusted.

3. Among Platonists, the archetypal world is the world as it existed in the idea of God, before the creation.

ARCHE'US, noun [Gr. beginning, or a chief.]

A term used by the ancient chimists, to denote the interal efficient cause of all things; the anima mundi or plastic power of the old philosophers; the power that presides over the animal economy, or the vis medicatrix; the active principle of the material world. In medicine, good health, or ancient practice.

One of the nations planted by the Assyrians in Samaria (Ezra 4:9); the men of Erech.

Inhabitants of Samaria.
Ezra 4:9

perhaps the inhabitants of Erech, some of whom had been placed as colonists in Samaria. (Ezra 4:9)

ARCHFEL'ON, noun [See Felon.] A chief felon.

ARCHFIE'ND, noun [See Fiend.] A chief fiend or foe.

ARCHFLAM'EN, noun A chief flamen or priest.

ARCHFLAT'TERER, noun [See Flatter.] A chief flatterer.

ARCHFO'E, noun [See Foe.] A grand or chief enemy.

ARCHFOUND'ER, noun A chief founder.

ARCHGOV'ERNOR, noun The chief governor.

ARCHHER'ESY, noun [See Heresy.] The greatest heresy.

ARCHHER'ETIC, noun A chief heretic.

ARCHHI'EREY, noun [Gr. chief, and priest.] A chief priest in Russia.

ARCHHYP'OCRITE, noun A great or chief hypocrite.

A city on the boundary of Ephraim and Benjamin (Joshua 16:2), between Bethel and Beth-horon the nether.

A city of Ephraim.
Joshua 16:2

(Joshua 16:2) A place in the neighborhood of Bethel, on the boundary between Ephraim and Benjamin. It designates a clan perhaps originally from Erech in Babylonia, of which Hushai was one. [ARCHITE, THE]

ARCH'IATER, noun [Gr. chief, and physician.] Chief physician; a word used in Russia.

ARCH'ICAL, adjective Chief; primary.

ARCHIDIAC'ONAL, adjective [See Deacon.]

Pertaining to an archdeacon; as an archidiaconal visitation.

ARCHIEPIS'COPAL, adjective [See Episcopal.]

Belonging to an archbishop; as, Canterbury is an archiepiscopal see.

'ARCHIL, noun A lichen, which grows on rocks, in the Canary and Cape de Verd isles, which yields a rich purple color, not durable, but very beautiful. It is bruised between stones, and moistened with strong spirit of urine mixed with quick lime. It first takes a purplish red color, and then turns to blue. In the first state it is called archil; and in the second, lacmas or litmase, litmus.

ARCHILO'CHIAN, adjective Pertaining to Archilochus, the poet, who invented a verse of seven feet, the first four dactyls or spondees, the last three, trochees.

'ARCHILUTE, noun

A large lute, a theorbo, the base-strings of which are doubled with an octave, and the higher strings with a unison.

'ARCHIMAGUS, noun [See Magician.] The high priest of the Persian Magi, or worshipers of fire.

ARCHIMAND'RITE, noun [from mandrite, a Syriac word for monk.]

In church history, a chief of the mandrites or monks, answering to abbot in Europe.

'ARCHING, participle present tense Forming an arch; covering with an arch.

'ARCHING, adjective Curving like an arch.

ARCHIPEL'AGO, noun [Authors are not agreed as to the origin of this word. Some suppose it to be compounded of Gr. chief, and sea; others of the Egean sea.]

In a general sense, a sea interspersed with many isles; but particularly the sea which separates Europe from Asia, otherwise called the Egean Sea. It contains the Grecian isles, called Cyclades and Sporades.

Master of the horse, a "fellow-soldier" of Paul's (Philemon 1:2), whom he exhorts to renewed activity (Colossians 4:17). He was a member of Philemon's family, probably his son.

a master of horses

A disciple at Colosse.
Colossians 4:17; Philippians 1:2

(master of the horse), a Christian teacher in Coloss', (Colossians 4:17) called by St. Paul his "fellow soldier," Philippians 2. He was probably a member of Philemon's family. (A.D. 62.)

The usual designation of Hushai (2 Samuel 15:32; 17:5, 14; 1 Chronicles 27:33), who was a native of Archi. He was "the king's friend", i.e., he held office under David similar to that of our modern privy councillor.

(as if from a place named Erech, on the frontiers of Ephraim), the usual designation of David's friend Hushai. (2 Samuel 15:32; 17:5,14; 1 Chronicles 27:33)

'ARCHITECT, noun [Gr. chief, and a workman. See Technical.]

1. A person skilled in the art of building; one who understands architecture, or makes it his occupation to form plans and designs of buildings, and superintend the artificers employed.

2. A contriver; a former or maker.

ARCHITECT'IVE, adjective Used in building; proper for building.

ARCHITECTON'IC, adjective That has power or skill to build.

ARCHITECTON'ICS, noun The science of architecture.

ARCHITECT'RESS, noun A female architect.

ARCHITECT'URAL, adjective Pertaining to the art of building; that is according to the rules of architecture.

General references
Hebrews 3:3-4

Figurative
Ephesians 2:21-22
Art; House; Tabernacle; Temple

The book of (Genesis 4:17,20,22) appears to divide mankind into two great characteristic sections, viz., the "dwellers in tents" and the "dwellers in cities." To the race of Shem is attributed (Genesis 10:11,12,22; 11:2-9) the foundation of those cities in the plain of Shinar, Babylon Nineveh and others. The Isr'lites were by occupation shepherds, and by habit dwellers in tents. (Genesis 47:3) They had therefore originally, speaking properly, no architecture. From the time of the occupation of Canaan they became dwellers in towns and in houses of stone. (Leviticus 14:34,45; 1 Kings 7:10) The peaceful reign and vast wealth of Solomon gave great impulse to architecture; for besides the temple and his other great works, he built fortresses and cities in various places, among which Baalath and Tadmor are in all probability represented by Baalbec and Palmyra. But the reigns of Herod and his successors were especially remarkable for their great architectural works. Not only was the temple restored, but the fortifications and other public buildings of Jerusalem were enlarged and embellished. (Luke 21:5) The town of C'sarea was built on the site of Strato's Tower; Samaria was enlarged, and received the name of Sebaste. Of the original splendor of these great works no doubt can be entertained; but of their style and appearance we can only conjecture that they were formed on Greek and Roman models. The enormous stones employed the Assyrian Persepolitan and Egyptian buildings find a parallel in the substructions of Baalbec and in the huge blocks which still remain at Jerusalem, relics of the buildings either of Solomon or of Herod.

'ARCHITECTURE, noun [Latin architectura.]

1. The art of building; but in a more limited and appropriate sense, the art of constructing houses, bridges and other buildings for the purposes of civil life.

2. Frame or structure.

The earth is a piece of divine architecture

Military architecture is the art of fortification.

Naval architecture is the art of building ships.

'ARCHITRAVE, noun [Gr. chief, and Latin trabs, a beam.]

In architecture, the lower division of an entablature, or that part which rests immediately on the column. It probably represents the beam which, in ancient buildings, extended from column to column, to support the roof.

In chimneys, the architrave is called the mantle piece; and over doors and windows, the hyperthyrion.

'ARCHIVAL, adjective [See Archives.] Pertaining to archives or records; contained in records.

'ARCHIVAULT, noun [arch, chief, and vault.]

In building, the inner contour of an arch, or a band adorned with moldings, running over the faces of the arch-stones, and bearing upon the imposts. It has only a single face in the Tuscan order; two faces crowned in the Doric and Ionic, and the same moldings, as the architrave, in the Corinthian and Composite.

'ARCHIVES, noun plural [Gr.; Low Latin archivum.]

The apartment in which records are kept; also the records and papers which are preserved, as evidences of facts.

'ARCHIVIST, noun The keeper of archives or records.

'ARCHLIKE, adjective Built like an arch.

'ARCHLUTE,

'ARCHLY, adverb Shrewdly; wittily; jestingly.

ARCHMAGI'CIAN, noun The chief magician.

ARCHMAR'SHAL, noun The grand marshal of the German empire; a dignity belonging to the elector of Saxony.

'ARCHNESS, noun Cunning; shrewdness; waggishness.

'ARCHON, noun [Gr. a prince.]

The archons in Greece were chief magistrates chosen, after the death of Codrus, from the most illustrious families, to superintend civil and religious concerns. They were nine in number; the first was properly the archon; the second was called king; the third, polemarch, or general of the forces. The other six were called thesmothetae, or legislators.

'ARCHONSHIP, noun The office of an archon; or the term of his office.

ARCHON'TICS, noun In church history, a branch of the Valentinians, who held that the world was not created by God, but by angels, archontes.

ARCHP'ASTOR, noun Chief pastor, the shepherd and bishop of our souls.

ARCHPHILOS'OPHER, noun A chief philosopher.

ARCHPIL'LAR, noun The main pillar.

ARCHPO'ET, noun The principal poet.

ARCHPOLITI'CIAN, noun [See Policy.] An eminent or distinguished politician.

ARCHPON'TIFF, noun [See Pontiff.] A supreme pontiff or priest.

ARCHPRE'LATE, noun [See Prelate.] The chief prelate.

ARCHPRES'BYTER, noun [See Presbyter.] a chief presbyter or priest.

ARCHPRES'BYTERY, noun The absolute dominion of presbytery, or the chief presbytery.

ARCHPRIE'ST, noun [See Priest.] A chief priest.

ARCHPRI'MATE, noun The chief primate; an archbishop

ARCHPROPH'ET, noun Chief prophet.

ARCHPROT'ESTANT, noun A principal or distinguished protestant.

ARCHPUB'LICAN, noun The distinguished publican.

ARCHREB'EL, noun The chief rebel

ARCHTRA'ITOR, noun A principal traitor.

ARCHTREAS'URER, noun [See Treasure.]

The great treasurer of the German empire; a dignity claimed by the elector of Hanover.

ARCHTREAS'URERSHIP, noun The office of archtreasurer.

Job 9:9
Job 38:32

ARCHTY'RANT, noun A principal or great tyrant.

ARCHVIL'LAIN, noun [See Villain.] A chief or great villain.

ARCHVIL'LANY, noun Great villany.

'ARCHWISE, adverb [arch and wise. See wise.] In the form of an arch.