archon

[ahr-kon]

noun

a higher magistrate in ancient Athens.

any ruler.

Origin of archon

1650–60; < Greek árchōn magistrate, ruler, noun use of present participle of árchein to be first, rule; see archi-

Related formsar·chon·ship, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for archon

Historical Examples of archon

Oils, as I am a Christian, and close to the very palace of the Archon!
Gycia
Lewis Morris
While at Archon's table he had determined to place his cure in the hands of higher powers.
Arachne, Complete
Georg Ebers
This probably alludes to the government of Solon, when Archon of Athens.
The Fables of Phdrus
Phaedrus
Philopoemen had a sharp difference in debate with Archon the Strategus.
The Histories of Polybius, Vol. II (of 2)
Polybius
He corresponded to the Roman consul and the Athenian archon.
Mesopotamian Archaeology
Percy S. P. Handcock

British Dictionary definitions for archon

archon

noun

(in ancient Athens) one of the nine chief magistrates

Derived Formsarchonship, noun

Word Origin for archon

C17: from Greek arkhōn ruler, from arkhein to rule

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for archon

one of the nine chief magistrates of ancient Athens, 1650s, from Greek arkhon "ruler," noun use of present participle of arkhein "to rule," from PIE *arkhein- "to begin, rule, command," a "Gk. verb of unknown origin, but showing archaic Indo-European features ... with derivatives arkhe, 'rule, beginning,' and arkhos, 'ruler' " [Watkins].