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Definition of archduke

archduke

/ˈɑːrtʃˌduːk/
arch · duke
Plural:archdukes
•
Adjective:archducal
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archduke Lexical Profile

archduke Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A sovereign prince or nobleman of high hereditary rank, historically used especially by male members of the Austrian Habsburg dynasty, ranking just below an emperor or king and above a duke.

Example

"The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo in 1914 triggered the diplomatic crisis that led to the First World War."

2

Any of various tropical Asian brush-footed butterflies of the genus Lexias (family Nymphalidae), native to the forests of Southeast Asia and characterized by dark wings with striking metallic blue, green, or golden-orange markings.

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Nearby Words

archbishop
archdiocese
archduchess
archduke
archenemy
archeologically
archer

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed from Middle French archiduc, from Medieval Latin archidux, combining the Greek-derived prefix archi- ('chief, principal') and Latin dux ('leader'). The title was famously formalized by the Habsburg rulers of Austria in the 14th and 15th centuries to elevate their status above ordinary dukes.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Archduke. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/archduke
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