'archive' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'arkheion', where 'arkhē' meant 'government' or 'rule'.

'arkheion' transformed into the Latin word 'archivum', and eventually became the modern English word 'archive' through Old French 'archif'.

Initially, it meant 'a place where public records or historical documents are kept', but over time it evolved into its current meaning of 'to store or preserve documents or data'.