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Origin and history of archetype

archetype(n.)

"model, first form, original pattern from which copies are made," 1540s [Barnhart] or c. 1600 [OED], from Latin archetypum, from Greek arkhetypon "pattern, model, figure on a seal," neuter of adjective arkhetypos "first-moulded," from arkhē "beginning, origin, first place" (verbal noun of arkhein "to be the first;" see archon) + typos "model, type, blow, mark of a blow" (see type).

The Jungian psychology sense of "pervasive idea or image from the collective unconscious" is from 1919. Jung defined archetypal images as "forms or images of a collective nature which occur practically all over the earth as constituents of myths and at the same time as autochthonous individual products of unconscious origin." ["Psychology and Religion" 1937]

also from 1540s

Entries linking to archetype

archon(n.)

one of the nine chief magistrates of ancient Athens, 1650s, from Greek arkhon "ruler, commander, chief, captain," noun use of present participle of arkhein "be the first," thence "to begin, begin from or with, make preparation for;" also "to rule, lead the way, govern, rule over, be leader of," a word of uncertain origin.

type(n.)

late 15c., "symbol, emblem, that by which something is symbolized, distinguishing mark or sign," from Latin typus "figure, image, form, kind," from Greek typos "a blow, dent, impression, mark, effect of a blow;" also "figure in relief, image, statue; anything wrought of metal or stone;" and by extension "general form, character; outline, sketch."

This is from the root of typtein "to strike, beat," which is reconstructed to be from a variant of PIE root *(s)teu- (1) "to push, stick, knock, beat," with derivations referring to projecting objects (source also of Latin stupere "be stunned, amazed;" see steep (adj.)).

Type was extended by 1713 to "small, right-angled printing block of metal or wood having for its face a letter or character, usually in high relief, adapted for use in letterpress printing." Hence "printed characters, characters written in imitation of letterpress printing" (1784).

The meaning "particular mode or style that serves as a guide, representative mode or structure" of some kind or class is attested by 1843, though the Latin and Greek words had that notion. In natural history, type as "a species which most perfectly exhibits the essential characteristics of the family or group," is attested by 1837.

Hence the sense of "person of a particular character," (by 1922); to be (someone's) type "be the sort of person that person is attracted to" is recorded by 1934.

archetypal(adj.)

"of or pertaining to an archetype," 1640s; see archetype + -al (1). The Jungian sense is from 1923.

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    original
    early 14c., "first in time, earliest," from Old French original "first" (13c.) and directly from Latin originalis, from originem (nominative origo) "beginning, source, birth," from oriri "to rise" (see origin). The first reference is to sin, synne original, "innate depravity of m
    pilot
    1510s, "one who steers a ship," especially one who has charge of the helm when the ship is passing in or out of harbor, from French pillote (16c.), from Italian piloto, supposed to be an alteration of Old Italian pedoto, which usually is said to be from Medieval Greek *pedotes "r
    idea
    late 14c., "archetype, concept of a thing in the mind of God," from Latin idea "Platonic idea, archetype," a word in philosophy...In Platonic philosophy, "an archetype, or pure immaterial pattern, of which the individual objects in any one natural class...
    mens sana in corpore sano
    Hitler was the archetype of the abstemious man....
    form
    Used widely from late 14c. in theology and Platonic philosophy with senses "archetype of a thing or class; Platonic essence...
    example
    late 14c., "an instance typical of a class; a model, either good or bad, action or conduct as an object of imitation; an example to be avoided; punishment as a warning," partial re-Latinization of earlier essample, asaumple (mid-13c.), from Old French essemple "sample, model, exa
    model
    1570s, "likeness made to scale; architect's set of designs," from French modelle (16c., Modern French modèle), from Italian modello "a model, mold," from Vulgar Latin *modellus, from Latin modulus "a small measure, standard," diminutive of modus "manner, measure" (from PIE root *
    calamity
    early 15c., "damage, state of adversity;" 1550s, "a great misfortune or cause of misery," from Old French calamite (14c.), from Latin calamitatem (nominative calamitas) "damage, loss, failure; disaster, misfortune, adversity," a word of obscure origin. Early etymologists associat
    bozo
    1920, "muscular low-I.Q. male," originally appearing in boxing slang (compare bimbo). Perhaps from Spanish bozal, used in the slave trade and also to mean "one who speaks Spanish poorly." It was also a proper name of Eastern European origin. By 1913 a vaudeville actor named Bob A
    pine
    "coniferous tree, tree of the genus Pinus," Old English pin (in compounds), from Old French pin and directly from Latin pinus "pine, pine-tree, fir-tree," which is perhaps from a PIE *pi-nu-, from root *peie- "to be fat, swell" (see fat (adj.)). If so, the tree's name would be a

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