arch·bish·op (ärch-bĭsh'əp) n.
Abbr. Abp. A bishop of the highest rank, heading an archdiocese or province.
[Middle English archebishop, from Old English arcebisceop, from Late Latin archiepiscopus, from Late Greek arkhiepiskopos : Greek arkhi-, archi- + Greek episkopos, bishop; see bishop.]
O.E. ærcebiscop, from L.L. archiepiscopus, from Gk. arkhi- "chief" (see archon) + episkopos "overseer." Replaced earlier O.E. heah biscop (see bishop). Archdiocese is recorded from 1844.