Meanings
comparative more archful · superlative most archful
- Arch; knowing.
His better verse is direct, forceful, sinuous, and pithy, and has the Gallic abandon and archful insouciance.
1928, University of Washington, University of Washington publications in language and literature, page 442 more examples
And then there is a glance of playfulness, And archful innocence, that steals upon The heart, and wakens it to love.
1825, “A Sketch”, in The Literary Magnet, page 145When he returned to Dublin and wrote "my intended future is, until the 20th October, Morehampton, Dublin", Theresa made archful reference to his " future intended."
1959, Nonplus - Issues 1-4, page 59
Origin
Cite this entry
archful. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/archful
“archful.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/archful. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “archful,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/archful.
Source: archful on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.