Etymology

arc

A1R1C3

Today it means: That part of a circle which a heavenly body appears to pass through as it moves above and below the horizon. Full definition →

First used 14th c.Middle English ark ← Old French arc ← Latin arcus
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arc · noun, verb1

  1. Proto-Indo-European*h₂erkʷ-
  2. Proto-Indo-European*h₂erkʷos
  3. Proto-Italic*arkuos
  4. Latinarcus
  5. Old Frencharc
  6. Middle Englishark
  7. English todayarc

Inherited from Middle English ark, from Old French arc, from Latin arcus (“a bow, arc, arch”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₂erkʷos (“bow, arrow”). Doublet of arch, arco, and arrow.

ARC · noun, proper noun2

An abbreviation.

ARC · proper noun, adjective3

  1. Spanish · borrowed fromARC
  2. Spanish · borrowed fromARC
  3. English todayARC

Borrowed from Spanish ARC.

Words from the same roots

Latinarcus all →

arcadearcharcherarsonarcusarbalestarblastarc-archivoltarciformarcographarcosoliumarculusgonarcus

First known use, by meaning

  • from 14th c. That part of a circle which a heavenly body appears to pass through as it moves above and below the horizon.
  • from 16th c. A continuous part of the circumference of a circle (circular arc) or of another curve.
  • from 17th c. A curve, in general.
  • from 17th c. A band contained within parallel curves, or something of that shape.
  • from 19th c. A flow of current across an insulating medium; especially a hot, luminous discharge either between two electrodes or as lightning.
  • from 20th c. Ellipsis of story arc.
  • from 20th c. A period or phase in a person's life.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.