Dictionary entry

ἀρχαῖος

G. Abbott-Smith's A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament

ἀρχαῖος, -αία, -αῖον

(< ἀρχή), [in LXX chiefly for קֶדֶם;]

original, ancient: Mt 5:21, 33, Lk 9:8, 19, Ac 15:7, 2121:16, II Co 5:17, II Pe 2:5, Re 12:920:2.†

SYN.: παλαιός, old, without the reference to beginning and origin contained in ἀ. The distinction is observed in π. (MM, s.v.). ἀ. is the antithesis to καινός: παλ. to νέος (v. Westc., He., 223; Cremer, 116).