A person who is the most notorious or extreme example of being a publican (a tax collector or tavern keeper), especially one considered disreputable.
From 'arch-' (chief, extreme) + 'publican' (from Latin 'publicanus,' a Roman tax collector or keeper of a public house/tavern). The term carries biblical weight, as publicans appear in the New Testament as morally questionable figures.
Jesus famously associated with publicans and sinners in the Bible, making this word historically loaded—'archpublican' would describe the worst of the worst in ancient Roman society. It's a perfect example of how 'arch-' words were often used to condemn people rather than praise them.
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