archon
Americannoun
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a higher magistrate in ancient Athens.
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any ruler.
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of archon
1650–60; < Greek árchōn magistrate, ruler, noun use of present participle of árchein to be first, rule; see archi-
Explanation
An archon is a leader. It could refer to the President of the United States, a top personality of the fashion world, or a really important person in dog training circles. This term, while often used in a general, poetic sense, was also a title in Ancient Greece. It was often used for a chief magistrate, or a person who enforces the law. Archon comes from a Greek word meaning "to be first." The arch- part of this root word is shared with monarch, another type of leader, and with the arch- in words like archbishop, a head bishop.
Vocabulary lists containing archon
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
An estimated 2,000,000 Americans will visit Europe this year, and an impressive number of them will follow a trail carefully blazed in advance by Temple Hornaday Fielding, at 55 the archon of U.S. guidebook writers.
From Time Magazine Archive
And Khomeini is the archon of the oilfields Khuzestan is a land of extreme contrasts.
From Time Magazine Archive
The mullah has become the archon of the oilfields.
From Time Magazine Archive
They were awarded to the victors in the games; the archon wore a myrtle-wreath as the sign of his dignity, as did also the orator while speaking to the people from the tribune.
From Museum of Antiquity A Description of Ancient Life by T. L. (Thomas Louis) Haines
The commanding functions of the archon were destroyed, and he only retained power to hear complaints, and fix the day of trial, and preside over the dikastic assembly.
From Ancient States and Empires by John Lord
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