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A portion of a curved line; as, the arc of a circle or of an ellipse.

The light of an arc lamp.

A series of arches with the columns or piers which support them, the spandrels above, and other necessary appurtenances; sometimes open, serving as an entrance or to give light; sometimes closed at the back (as in the cut) and forming a decorative feature.

Furnished with an arcade.

: Any region or scene of simple pleasure and untroubled quiet. Where the cow is, there is Arcadia. J. Burroughs.

Of or pertaining to Arcadia; pastoral; ideally rural; as, Arcadian simplicity or scenery.

Hidden; secret. [Obs.] "The arcane part of divine wisdom." Berkeley.

A secret; a mystery; -- generally used in the plural. Inquiries into the arcana of the Godhead. Warburton.

A flying buttress. Gwilt.

ii of the curve; used to support the wall or other weight above an opening. In this sense arches are segmental, round (i. e., semicircular), or pointed.

A wedge-shaped brick used in the building of an arch.

A wedge-shaped stone used in an arch; a voussoir.

A prefix signifying chief, as in archbuilder, archfiend.

Ancient; pertaining to the earliest period in geological history.

A description of, or a treatise on, antiquity or antiquities.

Of or pertaining to the earliest Stone age; -- applied to a prehistoric period preceding the Paleolithic age.

An archæologist.

Relating to archæology, or antiquities; as, archæological researches. -- Ar`*chæ*o*log"ic*al*ly, adv.

One versed in archæology; an antiquary. Wright.

The science or study of antiquities, esp. prehistoric antiquities, such as the remains of buildings or monuments of an early epoch, inscriptions, implements, and other relics, written manuscripts, etc.