arch.
Writing & Everyday abbreviation · Grammar and Dictionary
| Stands for | Archaic |
|---|---|
| Categories | Writing & Everyday |
arch. stands for Archaic, a grammar and dictionary abbreviation.
Labels a word or sense that is old-fashioned but still occasionally used for special effect, as in religious, literary or legal language; examples include "thou," "whilom" and "betwixt."
Example: betwixt (prep.) arch. between, surviving in the phrase "betwixt and between"
Usage notes
Archaic words differ from obsolete ones because readers still recognize them and writers revive them for humor, solemnity or period flavor. Fantasy and historical fiction lean on archaic forms like "ye" and "hath," and legal drafting keeps "hereinafter" and "witnesseth." In architecture and sports, "arch" is an unrelated word.