I. ˈekˌsärk noun
( -s )
Etymology: Late Latin exarchus, from Late Greek exarchos, from Greek, leader, chief, from exarchein to begin, take the lead in, rule, from ex- (from ex out) + archein to begin, rule — more at ex- , archi-
1. : a viceroy of a province under the Byzantine emperors — used as a title or mode of address
2. Eastern Church
a. : the head of a chief see or province during the early periods of church history
b. : a bishop inferior to a patriarch and superior to a metropolitan
c. : a deputy of a patriarch usually holding the rank of bishop
d. : the head of an independent church
• ex·arch·al (ˈ)ek|särkəl adjective
II. adjective
Etymology: exo- + -arch
: formed or taking place from the periphery toward the center — used of the primary xylem (as of a root) or its development; compare endarch , mesarch