'archetypical' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'archetypos', where 'arche-' meant 'first' and 'typos' meant 'model' or 'impression'.

'archetypos' passed into Medieval/Neo-Latin as 'archetypus', later into French as 'archétype' and English as 'archetype'; the adjective 'archetypical' was formed in English by adding the suffix '-ical'.

Initially it meant 'the original model or pattern'; over time it broadened to mean 'typical or representative example' as well as retaining the sense of 'original model'.