Thanks to all who have responded so far. I forward an authoritative reply
from the OED.
Nicholas Webb
Archivist
Barclays Group Archives
> Dear Mr Webb,
>
> Thank you for your query. The etymology of archive is pretty much as we
> have it.
> In slightly more detail:
>
> < French archif, archive 'collection of documents' (1416 as archives),
> 'place
> where documents are stored' (1565 as archifs) < late Latin archium (2nd
> cent.
> A.D.), archivum (early 3rd cent. A.D.) 'collection of documents,' 'place
> where
> documents are stored' < Hellenistic Greek archeion, in plural archeia,
> 'public
> records, archives,' already in ancient Greek in sense 'magisterial
> residence,
> public office' < arche 'government'.
>
> The Greek word is actually recorded in the sense 'public records,
> archives' in
> various inscriptions and papyri, as well as in the senses mentioned in OED
>
> 'magisterial residence, public office.' A major French dictionary, Tresor
> de la
> Langue Francaise, derives Latin archium, archivum from Greek ta archaia
> 'ancient
> things,' but all the Latin dictionaries derive the Latin word from Greek
> archeion, so this is probably more reliable. I can find no trace of a
> derivation
> from a Greek word meaning 'chest or receptacle in which records are kept.'
>
> Yours sincerely,
>
> Dr Samantha Schad
> Oxford Word and Language Service.
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