Determine whether the given word is a prefix, suffix, or root word,

arch

A.
prefix

B.
suffix

C.
root word

C. root word

The word "arch" is a root word.

To determine whether the given word "arch" is a prefix, suffix, or root word, we need to understand the definitions and roles of each.

1. Prefix: A prefix is a word part that is added to the beginning of a base word to create a new meaning. It modifies the word's meaning or creates a new word altogether. For example, in the word "unhappy," "un-" is the prefix added to "happy" to change its meaning to "not happy."

2. Suffix: A suffix is a word part that is added to the end of a base word to modify its meaning or change it into a different grammatical category. For example, in the word "lovely," "-ly" is the suffix that changes the adjective "love" into an adverb.

3. Root Word: A root word is the base or core of a word from which other words are derived. It carries the essential meaning of the word and can stand alone as an independent word. For example, in the word "architect," "arch-" is the root word meaning "chief" or "ruler."

Now, let's analyze the word "arch." It does not have any identifiable suffix or prefix added to it. It also cannot stand alone as an independent word, suggesting that "arch" is not a root word either.

Therefore, in this case, the answer would be C. "root word."