'archprelatic' originates from Greek, specifically the prefix 'arkhi-' (archi-), where 'arkhi-' meant 'chief' or 'principal', combined with the element from Latin 'praelatus' (via Old French 'prelat') which related to 'prelate'.

'archprelatic' changed from Latin and Old French forms: Latin 'praelatus' (past participle of 'praeferre') gave Old French 'prelat' and Middle English 'prelate', and the prefix 'arch-' (from Greek 'arkhi-') was later attached to form the adjective 'archprelatic'.

Initially the roots referred to being 'placed before' or 'preferred' (Latin 'praelatus'); over time the combined term came to mean 'pertaining to a chief prelate' in modern usage.