Archive
/ˈɑːr.kɪv/noun
A collection of historical records or documents preserved for future reference.
Did you know?Archive ultimately comes from Greek *arkheion*, the public records office, from *arkhē* meaning “rule” or “authority,” the same root behind words of command and origin.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*h₂erǵ-
“to begin, be first; to rule”
Ancient Greek
Greek
ἀρχή (arkhē)
“beginning, rule, authority”
Ancient Greek
Greek
ἀρχεῖον (arkheion)
“public office; records office”
Late Latin
Latin
archivum
“public records; archive”
Old French
Old French
archive
“public records”
Modern English
English
archive
“a collection of preserved records or documents”