Archarchitect

/ɑrkˈɑrkɪtɛkt/ noun

Definition

The supreme or chief architect; a master designer of buildings or structures.

Etymology

Combining arch- (chief) with architect (from Greek archi- 'chief' + tekton 'builder'). The doubling of the 'arch-' concept emphasizes ultimate authority—making someone the supreme master of their craft. This redundant intensification was popular in Renaissance writing.

Kelly Says

It's actually kind of funny that 'architect' already contains 'arch-' in its Greek roots, so calling someone an 'archarchitect' is like saying 'chief-chief-builder'—it shows how English speakers loved piling on the superlatives, even when they were technically redundant.

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