archaic
UK: ɑːˈkeɪɪk | US: ɑːrˈkeɪɪk
adj. belonging to an earlier period; ancient or outdated
adj. (of language) no longer in ordinary use but retained for special purposes
archaic = archa<ancient> + ic<adjective suffix>
- archa: From Greek arkhaios (ancient), derived from arkhē (beginning, origin).
- ic: A suffix forming adjectives, often indicating "pertaining to" or "of the nature of."
Etymology Origin:
The word archaic traces back to Greek arkhaios, meaning "old" or "ancient," which itself stems from arkhē (beginning). It entered English via Latin archaicus in the 19th century, originally describing antiquities or early artistic styles. Over time, it broadened to denote anything outdated or no longer in common use, particularly in linguistics (e.g., thou in English). The suffix -ic solidifies its role as an adjective.
The museum displayed archaic tools from the Bronze Age.
"Thee" and "thou" are archaic pronouns in modern English.
His archaic views on gender roles sparked debate.
The software still uses an archaic file format.
Scholars study archaic dialects to understand language evolution.