1. A secret; a mystery; — generally used in the plural.
Inquiries into the arcana of the Godhead.
Warburton.
2. (Med.) A secret remedy; an elixir. Dunglison.
Arcboutant
(||Arc`*bou`tant") n. [F.] (Arch.) A flying buttress. Gwilt.
Arch
(Arch) n. [F. arche, fr. LL. arca, for arcus. See Arc.]
1. (Geom.) Any part of a curved line.
2. (Arch.) (a) Usually a curved member made up of separate wedge-shaped solids, with the joints
between them disposed in the direction of the radii of the curve; used to support the wall or other weight
above an opening. In this sense arches are segmental, round or pointed. (b) A flat arch is a member
constructed of stones cut into wedges or other shapes so as to support each other without rising in a
curve.
Scientifically considered, the arch is a means of spanning an opening by resolving vertical pressure into
horizontal or diagonal thrust.
3. Any place covered by an arch; an archway; as, to pass into the arch of a bridge.
4. Any curvature in the form of an arch; as, the arch of the aorta. "Colors of the showery arch." Milton.
Triumphal arch, a monumental structure resembling an arched gateway, with one or more passages,
erected to commemorate a triumph.
Arch
(Arch), v. t. [imp. & p. p. Arched ; p. pr. & vb. n. Arching.]
1. To cover with an arch or arches.
2. To form or bend into the shape of an arch.
The horse arched his neck.
Charlesworth.
Arch
(Arch), v. i. To form into an arch; to curve.
Arch-
(Arch-) (ärch-, except in archangel and one or two other words). [L. arch-, Gr. . See Arch-.] A
prefix signifying chief, as in archbuilder, archfiend.
Arch
(Arch) a. [See Arch-, pref.]
1. Chief; eminent; greatest; principal.
The most arch act of piteous massacre.
Shak.
2. Cunning or sly; sportively mischievous; roguish; as, an arch look, word, lad.
[He] spoke his request with so arch a leer.
Tatler.
Arch
(Arch), n. [See Arch-, pref.] A chief. [Obs.]
My worthy arch and patron comes to-night.
Shak.
-
arch
(-arch) [Gr. 'archo`s chief, commander, 'a`rchein to rule. See Arch, a.] A suffix meaning a
ruler, as in monarch (a sole ruler).
