Literary notes about Arch (AI summary)
The term “arch” is employed with notable versatility, serving both as a descriptor of physical structures and as a marker of figurative importance or attitude. In its architectural sense, it appears in descriptions of grand or utilitarian constructions—from triumphal arches commemorating historical events [1, 2, 3] to the rounded vaults and bridges of engineered landscapes [4, 5, 6]. Simultaneously, “arch” is used metaphorically to denote superiority or an element of sly wit, as when characters are portrayed as the arch-enemy or given an arch, imperious look [7, 8, 9, 10, 11]. Literary works thus harness the word both to paint vivid, tangible images of arches in buildings and nature, and to imbue individuals with a clever, often mischievous quality.
- It is the Arch of Titus erected in memory of Rome's triumph over Judæa Capta .
— from The Declaration of Independence of the United States of America by Thomas Jefferson - Here in brilliant Paris, under this majestic Arch of Triumph, the First Century greets the Nineteenth!
— from The Innocents Abroad by Mark Twain - D’Artagnan led his horse under the arch of the bridge.
— from Twenty years after by Alexandre Dumas and Auguste Maquet - Except in a few of the Aquitanian churches, the round arch was universal.
— from The Declaration of Independence of the United States of America by Thomas Jefferson - Descending a gentle slope, you come to an arch, where, some twenty steps lower down, water of the clearest crystal gushes from the marble rock.
— from The Sorrows of Young Werther by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe - The finest street, Union Street, made in 1800, is carried over a valley by a granite bridge having an arch of 132 feet span.
— from The New Gresham Encyclopedia. A to Amide by Various - To whom th' Arch-Enemy, And thence in Heaven called Satan, with bold words Breaking the horrid silence, thus began:— "
— from Paradise Lost by John Milton - Whereto with speedy words th' Arch-fiend reply'd.
— from The Poetical Works of John Milton by John Milton - Upwards:—in spite of the spirit that drew it downwards, towards the abyss, the spirit of gravity, my devil and arch-enemy.
— from Thus Spake Zarathustra: A Book for All and None by Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche - you say me nay already,” she said with arch imperiousness, and a charming little pout of the lips, a woman’s way of laughing away scruples.
— from Father Goriot by Honoré de Balzac - ‘You’re so unfortunate, Mr. Markham!’ observed the younger sister, with one of her arch, sidelong glances.
— from The Tenant of Wildfell Hall by Anne Brontë
