Architect
/ˈɑːr.kɪ.tekt/noun
A person who designs buildings and often supervises their construction.
Did you know?The word comes from Greek *arkhi-* meaning “chief” and *tekton* meaning “builder/carpenter,” so its ancient sense was closer to a commanding craft-master than a modern office designer.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*teks-
“to weave, fabricate, build”
Ancient Greek
Greek
ἀρχιτέκτων (arkhitéktōn)
“master builder, chief craftsman”
Late Latin
Latin
architectus
“master builder, architect”
Old French
Old French
architecte
“architect, master builder”
16th Century
English
architect
“a master builder or designer of buildings”
Modern English
English
architect
“a person who designs buildings and often supervises their construction”