▪ I. † arche Obs.
[a. OF. arche:—L. arca: cf. ark. It is possible that the OE. arc, arce may itself have become arch in some dialects, but the use of this form down to the 16th c. is clearly from Fr.]
1. Noah's ark; = ark 3.
| 1205 Lay. 26 Noe & Sem, Japhet & Cham and heore four wiues þe mid heom weren on archen. c 1230 Ancr. R. 334 Eihte i þen arche. c 1250 Gen. & Ex. 580 Ðan noe was in to ðe arche cumen. a 1300 Cursor M. 1843 On þe streme þat arche can ride. 1393 Langl. P. Pl. C. xii. 247 For archa noe..Ys no more to mene Bote holy churche. |
2. The ark of the covenant; = ark 2. Also transf.
| c 1450 Lonelich Grail xvi. 290 To kepen this holy arch [of the Grail] in this manere. 1483 Caxton Gold. Leg. 422/4 The arche of the testamente of god. 1532 More Confut. Tindale Wks. 420/2 They abhorred not in the arche the ymages of the angels. |
▪ II. arche
obs. form of arch n.