arch

ruler, chief, first

Spelled arch · arkhein 'to rule, be first'

Greek arkhein meant rule or be first: a monarch rules alone, a matriarch leads a family, and anarchy lacks rulers.

Words built from it

monarch — a sole hereditary ruler such as a king or queen
mon- (one, single) + arch (ruler)
monarchy — a government headed by a single ruler
mon- (one) + arch (ruler) + -y (state of)
anarchy — absence of government or order
an- (without) + arch (ruler) + -y (state of)
hierarchy — a system ranking people or things by level
hier- (sacred) + arch (rule) + -y (system of)
matriarch — a woman who rules or leads a family or group
matri- (mother) + arch (ruler)
archetype — an original model that others are based on
arch- (first, original) + type (model)

research — from Old French recercher 'seek out,' ultimately Latin circare, not Greek archē
archer — from Latin arcus 'bow' (the weapon); unrelated to Greek arkhein 'to rule.'