'archimago' originates from Italian, specifically the word 'archimago,' where 'archi-' meant 'chief' (from Greek 'arkhi-') and 'mago' (from Greek 'magos') meant 'magician'.

'archimago' came into English usage largely via literary and antiquarian borrowings (e.g., in translations and references to medieval and Renaissance texts) from Italian/Medieval Latin forms, themselves reflecting Greek elements 'arkhi-' + 'magos'.

Initially, it meant 'chief magician' or 'high sorcerer'; over time it became chiefly literary or archaic in English and is often encountered as the proper name of a deceptive wizard (e.g., in Spenser).