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• Archy
  Archy

  noun

  a first name, form of Archibald.
• -archy
  -archy

  a combining form meaning “rule,” “government,” forming abstract nouns usually corresponding to personal nouns ending in -arch:

Archy

¹ American  

[ahr-chee] / ˈɑr tʃi /

noun

1. a first name, form of Archibald.

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-archy ² American  

1. a combining form meaning “rule,” “government,” forming abstract nouns usually corresponding to personal nouns ending in -arch:

   monarchy; oligarchy.

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-archy British  

combining form

1. government; rule

   anarchy

   monarchy

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Usage

What does -archy mean? The combining form -archy is used like a suffix meaning “rule” or "government." It is often used in technical terms, especially in sociology. The form -archy comes from Greek -archēs, meaning “rule, government.”What are variants of -archy?While -archy doesn't have any variants, it is related to the form -arch, as in matriarch. Want to know more? Read our Words That Use article for -arch.

Other Word Forms

• -archic
  combining form
• -archist
  combining form

Etymology

Origin of -archy

Middle English -archie < Latin -archia < Greek, equivalent to arch ( os ) or -arch ( ēs ) -arch + -ia -y ³