DictionaryRoot: arkhi-
Greek
arkhi-
chief, leading, or highest
Forms
- arkhi-
- archi- — The common Latin-style spelling.
- arch- — A shortened form used in some borrowings.
Origin
From Greek arkhein, “begin or rule.”
Note
Being first in position could become being first in authority.
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noun
archdeacon
arch-DEE-kun/ˌɑːrtʃˈdiːkən/
A senior church official who assists a bishop and supervises clergy.
Etymology
The pieces mean “chief deacon,” with deacon originally meaning a servant or church attendant. The title identifies a senior official charged with oversight of part of a bishop’s diocese.