Archer
/'ɑ:tʃə/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- A person who shoots with a bow and arrow: An individual skilled in using a bow to propel arrows, often for sport, hunting, or historically in warfare.
- (Astrology) A person born under the zodiac sign Sagittarius: An individual whose birth date falls between approximately November 22 and December 21, when the sun is in the constellation Sagittarius, which is symbolically represented by an archer (a centaur with a bow).
Examples of Usage
- Noun (Person with a bow):
- The skilled archer hit the bullseye from fifty meters away.
- In medieval armies, the archer was a crucial part of the military force.
- Noun (Astrological sign):
- As an Archer, she is known for her adventurous and optimistic nature.
- Is your zodiac sign the Archer or Scorpio?
Advanced Usage
- "To draw/pull a longbow": This is an action performed by an archer, meaning to pull the string of a bow fully back in preparation to shoot.
- The archer drew the longbow with practiced ease.
- "Archer's paradox": A technical term in archery referring to the flexing of an arrow as it leaves the bow.
- Understanding the archer's paradox is key to improving accuracy.
Variants and Related Words
- Archery (n): The art, sport, or skill of shooting with a bow and arrow.
- She took up archery as a hobby.
- Archerfish (n): A type of fish that shoots jets of water to knock insects into the water, named for its "archer-like" skill. (This is a distinct compound word).
- Sagittarius (n): The Latin name for the zodiac constellation and sign, meaning "archer".
Synonyms
- Bowman: A person who uses a bow, especially in historical contexts (e.g., a medieval bowman).
- Toxophilite: (Formal) A student or lover of archery.
- Sagittarian: A person born under the sign of Sagittarius.
Related Phrases
- "A crack shot with a bow": An idiom describing an exceptionally accurate archer.
- He's a crack shot with a bow, never missing his target.
- "Straight as an arrow": An idiom often associated with the path of a well-shot arrow, meaning very straight or honest.
- The road ahead was straight as an arrow.
Notes on Meaning
The word archer has two primary, distinct meanings: 1. The literal meaning referring to a person who practices the skill of archery. 2. The astrological meaning, which is a symbolic reference based on the imagery of the Sagittarius constellation. These meanings are related conceptually (through the image of a bow-wielder) but are used in completely different contexts (sport/history vs. astrology).
Noun
- the ninth sign of the zodiac; the sun is in this sign from about November 22 to December 21
- (astrology) a person who is born while the sun is in Sagittarius
- a person who is expert in the use of a bow and arrow