English Explanatory Dictionary

acephalous

English dictionary entry

Meanings

adj
  1. Having no head.
  2. Without a distinct head.
  3. Having the style spring from the base, instead of from the apex, as is the case in certain ovaries
  4. A system of society without centralised state authority, where power is welded amongst groups of community entities e.g. clans. Without a leader or chief.
  5. Deficient in the beginning, as a line of poetry that is missing its expected opening syllable.
  6. Lacking the first portion of the text. (of a manuscript)
  7. Without a beginning.

Pronunciation

/əˈsɛfələs/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-acephalous.wav

Word forms

acephalous more acephalous most acephalous

Etymology

From French acéphale, from Ancient Greek ἀκέφαλος (aképhalos, “headless”), from ἀ- (a-, “not”) + κεφαλή (kephalḗ, “head”). By surface analysis, a- + -cephalous.

Synonyms

acephalic headless leaderless

Related words

acephalia acephalic acephaly anencephalous anencephaly autocephalous autocephaly bicephalous bicephaly encephalous monocephalous polycephalous

Derived words

acephalously
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