archetype

The story

1. Proto-Indo-European · derived from*(s)tewp-“to push; to stick”
2. Proto-Indo-European · derived from*h₂ergʰ-“to begin; to command, rule”
3. Ancient Greek · derived fromἀρχέτυπον“model, pattern”
4. Latin · derived fromarchetypum“original”
5. Old French · derived fromarchitipe
6. English todayarchetype

From Old French architipe (modern French archétype), from Latin archetypum (“original”), from Ancient Greek ἀρχέτυπον (arkhétupon, “model, pattern”), the neuter form of ἀρχέτυπος (arkhétupos, “first-moulded”), from ἀρχή (arkhḗ, “beginning, origin”) (from ἄρχω (árkhō, “to begin; to lead, rule”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₂ergʰ- (“to begin; to command, rule”)) + τῠ́πος (tŭ́pos, “blow, pressing; sort, type”) (from τύπτω (túptō, “to beat, strike”), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)tewp- (“to push; to stick”)).

Words from the same roots

First known use, by meaning

• from mid 16th c. An original model of which all other similar concepts, objects, or persons are merely copied, derivative, emulated, or patterned.