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Arch vs Wily - What's the difference?

arch | wily | Synonyms |

Arch is a synonym of wily.


As adjectives the difference between arch and wily

is that arch is (senseid) knowing, clever, mischievous while wily is sly, cunning, full of tricks.

As a noun arch

is (senseid)an inverted u shape or arch can be (obsolete) a chief.

As a verb arch

is to form into an arch shape.

arch

English

(wikipedia arch) (commons)

Etymology 1

From (etyl), from (etyl) .

Noun

(es)
  • (senseid)An inverted U shape.
  • An arch-shaped arrangement of trapezoidal stones, designed to redistribute downward force outward.
  • (senseid)(architecture) An architectural element having the shape of an arch
  • Any place covered by an arch; an archway.
    • to pass into the arch of a bridge
  • (archaic, geometry) An arc; a part of a curve.
    • References
    *

    Verb

  • To form into an arch shape
    • The cat arched its back
  • To cover with an arch or arches.

    • Related terms

    * arc

    Etymology 2

    From the prefix . "Principal" is the original sense; "mischievous" is via onetime frequent collocation with rogue, knave, etc.

    Adjective

    (er)
  • (senseid) Knowing, clever, mischievous.
    • I attempted to hide my emotions, but an arch remark escaped my lips.
  • * Tatler
    • [He] spoke his request with so arch a leer.
  • * 1906 , O. Henry,
    • A certain melancholy that touched her countenance must have been of recent birth, for it had not yet altered the fine and youthful contours of her cheek, nor subdued the arch though resolute curve of her lips.
  • *
    • Lassiter ended there with dry humor, yet behind that was meaning. Jane blushed and made arch eyes at him.
  • Principal; primary.
  • * Shakespeare
    • the most arch act of piteous massacre
    Derived terms
    * (l)

    Noun

    (es)
  • (obsolete) A chief.
  • * Shakespeare
    • My worthy arch and patron comes to-night.

    External links

    * * *

    Anagrams

    * ----

    wily

    English

    Adjective

    (en-adj)
  • sly, cunning, full of tricks
    • Horatio's new girlfriend is a wily coquette and poor Horatio is too smitten to see it.

    Synonyms

    * See also