Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Acephalous
1.
Headless.
2.
(Zool.)
Without a distinct head; – a term applied to bivalve mollusks.
3.
(Bot.)
Having the style spring from the base, instead of from the apex, as is the case in certain ovaries.
4.
Without a leader or chief.
5.
Wanting the beginning.
A false or
acephalous
structure of sentence. De Quincey.
6.
(Pros.)
Deficient at the beginning, as a line of poetry.
Brande.
Webster 1828 Edition
Acephalous
ACEPH'ALOUS
,Adj.
Without a head, headless. In history, the term Acephali, or Acephalites was given to several sects who refused to follow some noted leader, and to such bishops as were exempt from the jurisdiction and discipline of their patriarch. It was also given to certain levelers who acknowledged no head in the reign of Henry 1st. It was also applied to the Blemmyes, a pretended nation of Africa, and to other tribes in the East, whom ancient naturalists represented as having no head; their eyes and mouth being placed in other parts. Modern discoveries have dissipated these fictions. In English Laws, men who held lands of no particular lord, and clergymen who were under no bishop.
Definition 2024
acephalous
acephalous
English
Adjective
acephalous (comparative more acephalous, superlative most acephalous)
- Headless
- (zoology, applied to bivalve mollusks) Without a distinct head.
- (botany) Having the style spring from the base, instead of from the apex, as is the case in certain ovaries
- Without a leader or chief.
- Wanting the beginning
- (Can we date this quote?) Thomas de Quincey
- A false or acephalous structure of sentence.
- (Can we date this quote?) Thomas de Quincey
- (prosody) Deficient in the beginning, as a line of poetry that is missing its expected opening syllable
- (Can we find and add a quotation of Brande to this entry?)
Derived terms
Translations
headless — see headless
without a leader or chief — see leaderless