noun
archetype
AH-kih-typ
noun
1
An original pattern or model that other similar things are based on or compared to.
"The wise old mentor is a familiar archetype in fantasy fiction."
"Jung believed certain archetypes, like the hero, appear across all cultures."
How to Use Archetype
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA classic, original pattern or example that other similar things are modeled on.
Common pairings
classic archetype
literary archetype
archetype of
Word Forms
archetyped past tense, archetypes plural, archetypes singular
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Etymology
From Greek arkhetupon, "original pattern", from arkhe-, "first", plus tupos, "type, mold".