exarch

¹ American  

[ek-sahrk] / ˈɛk sɑrk /

noun

1. Eastern Church.

   1. a patriarch's deputy.

   2. a title originally applied to a patriarch but later applied only to a bishop ranking below a patriarch and above a metropolitan.

2. the ruler of a province in the Byzantine Empire.

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exarch ² American  

[ek-sahrk] / ˈɛk sɑrk /

adjective

Botany.

1. (of a primary xylem or root) developing from the center; having the youngest cells closest to the core.

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exarch ¹ British  

/ ˈɛksɑːk /

noun

1. the head of certain autonomous Orthodox Christian Churches, such as that of Bulgaria and Cyprus

2. any of certain Eastern Orthodox bishops, lower in rank than a patriarch but higher than a metropolitan

3. the governor of a province in the Byzantine Empire

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exarch ² British  

/ ˈɛksɑːk /

adjective

1. botany (of a xylem strand) having the first-formed xylem external to that formed later Compare endarch mesarch

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Other Word Forms

• exarchal adjective

Etymology

Origin of exarch¹

1580–90; < Late Latin exarchus superintendent < Greek éxarchos overseer, leader, equivalent to ex- ex- ³ + -archos -arch

Origin of exarch²

1890–95; ex- ² + Greek archḗ beginning

Example Sentences

Most colorful visitors at the opening last week were the Russian and Eastern Orthodox representatives�bearded patriarchs like Archimandrite Vitaly of Russia, Archbishop Panteleimon of Greece and Metropolitan Germanos, Greek Orthodox exarch for Western Europe.

From Time Magazine Archive

The exarch, John Platina, came suddenly to Rome.

From The Formation of Christendom, Volume VII by Allies, Thomas W.

But he returned presently, at the instance of the exarch of Ravenna, to the errors which he had renounced.

From The Formation of Christendom, Volume VII by Allies, Thomas W.

The confirmation of each pope's election was, as a rule, obtained either from the exarch or direct from the emperor.

From The Formation of Christendom, Volume VII by Allies, Thomas W.

There was war between the exarch and the Lombard king, Rotharis, but it did not touch Rome.

From The Formation of Christendom, Volume VII by Allies, Thomas W.