n. [ L. archon, Gr. &unr_;, &unr_;, ruler, chief magistrate, p. pr. of &unr_; to be first, to rule. ] (Antiq.) One of the chief magistrates in ancient Athens, especially, by preëminence, the first of the nine chief magistrates. -- Ar*chon"tic a. [1913 Webster]

n. The office of an archon. Mitford. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. archontat. ] An archon's term of office. Gibbon. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. pl. [ Gr. 'a`rchwn, p. pr. See Archon. ] (Zool.) The group including man alone. [ 1913 Webster ]