In ancient philosophy, a vital principle or animating life force; the organizing principle that gives form and order to matter.
From Greek 'archos' (chief, ruler). Used by ancient Greek philosophers like Parmenides and later Neoplatonists to describe the fundamental organizing power of the universe.
Ancient Greeks struggled with the question 'what makes matter alive?' and invented the 'archeus'—an invisible force they imagined organizing all of reality, kind of like an ancient idea of what gravity or energy is!
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.