Archæan
(Ar*chæ"an) a. [Gr. 'archai^os ancient, fr. 'archh` beginning.] Ancient; pertaining to the earliest
period in geological history.
Archæan
(Ar*chæ"an), n. (Geol.) The earliest period in geological period, extending up to the Lower Silurian.
It includes an Azoic age, previous to the appearance of life, and an Eozoic age, including the earliest
forms of life.
This is equivalent to the formerly accepted term Azoic, and to the Eozoic of Dawson.
Archæography
(Ar`chæ*og"ra*phy) n. [Gr. ancient + -graphy.] A description of, or a treatise on, antiquity
or antiquities.
Archæolithic
(Ar`chæ*o*lith"ic) a. [Gr. 'archai^os ancient + liqiko`s pertaining to a stone.] (Archæol.) Of or
pertaining to the earliest Stone age; — applied to a prehistoric period preceding the Paleolithic age.
Archæologian
(Ar`chæ*o*lo"gi*an) n. An archæologist.
Archæologic
(Ar`chæ*o*log"ic) Archæological
(Ar`chæ*o*log"ic*al) Relating to archæology, or antiquities; as,
archæological researches. — Ar`*chæ*o*log"ic*al*ly, adv.
Archæologist
(Ar`chæ*ol"o*gist) n. One versed in archæology; an antiquary. Wright.
Archæology
(Ar`chæ*ol"o*gy) n. [Gr. 'archai^os ancient (fr. 'archh` beginning) + discourse, to speak.]
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.
Archæopteryx
(||Ar`chæ*op"te*ryx) n. [Gr. 'archai^os ancient + pte`ryx wing.] (Paleon.) A fossil bird, of
the Jurassic period, remarkable for having a long tapering tail of many vertebræ with feathers along each
side, and jaws armed with teeth, with other reptilian characteristics.
Archæostomatous
(Ar`chæ*o*stom"a*tous) a. [Gr. 'archai^os ancient + sto`ma mouth.] (Biol.) Applied to
a gastrula when the blastopore does not entirely close up.
Archæozoic
(Ar`chæ*o*zo"ic) a. [Gr. 'archai^os ancient + zw^,on animal.] (Zoöl.) Like or belonging to the
earliest forms of animal life.
Archaic
(Ar*cha"ic) a. [Gr. 'archai:ko`s old-fashioned, fr. 'archai^os ancient.] Of or characterized by
antiquity or archaism; antiquated; obsolescent.
Archaical
(Ar*cha"ic*al) a. Archaic. [R.] — Ar*cha"ic*al*ly, adv.
Archaism
(Ar"cha*ism) n. [Gr. 'archai:smo`s, fr. 'archai^os ancient, fr. 'archh` beginning: cf. F. archaïsme.
See Arch, a.]
1. An ancient, antiquated, or old-fashioned, word, expression, or idiom; a word or form of speech no
longer in common use.
2. Antiquity of style or use; obsoleteness.
A select vocabulary corresponding (in point of archaism and remoteness from ordinary use) to our Scriptural
vocabulary.
De Quincey.
Archaist
(Ar"cha*ist), n.
1. Am antiquary.
2. One who uses archaisms.
