How to pronounce arch

Love words? Try a free round: no sign-up, about two minutes. Play free

What arch means

adjective

Most people know arch in its everyday sense. Here's its other meaning.

Playfully sly, as if you know a secret

In a sentence: She gave him an arch little smile, as if she knew where his present was hidden.

Where it comes from: It comes from arch-, a word part meaning chief. It got its teasing meaning from being used so often with words like rogue. It is a different word from arch, the curve.

Can you spot the real meaning? Play Wordfib

One free round, no sign-up. Wordfib shows a word and four meanings: one real, three fibs.

All Wordfib words →