sb. pl. [late L. (Isid.) pl. of acephal-us a. Gr. ἀκέφαλ-ος headless, f. ἀ priv. + κεφαλ-ή head.]
1. Nat. Hist. (Imaginary) men or animals without heads.
1600. Abp. Abbot, Jonah, 209. Some such things were talked of, Acephali, men without heads, Cynocephali, men with heads like to dogs.
1753. Chambers, Cycl. Supp., s.v. Though the existence of a nation of Acephali be ill warranted.
2. Eccl. Hist. A name applied to various Christian sects or bodies, from the want of a chief or leader, from acknowledging no earthly head, or from rejection of episcopal jurisdiction.
1625. A. Gill, Sacr. Philos., ii. 195. The heresies concerning the proprieties of the Mediator … The Acephali or headlesse, because they had neither bishops, nor priests.
1642. Jer. Taylor, Episcopacie (1647), 333. Why are they called Acephali? Nicephorus gives this reason, and withall a very particular account of their heresy … They refused to live under Bishops.
1707. Phillips, Acephali, a sort of Hereticks, whose first Ring-leader is unknown. Acephali Sacerdotes, Priests that own no Bishop over them, Independent Ministers.
1751. Chambers, Cycl., s.v. The name Acephali is sometimes applied to such priests, or bishops, as are exempted from the discipline and jurisdiction of their ordinary bishop or patriarch.
† 3. Eng. Hist. ‘Certain Levellers that acknowledg’d no Head or Superiour, mention’d in the Laws of K. Henry I.’ Phillips, 1707.
1721. Bailey [as in Phillips].
a. 1824. D’Israeli, Cur. Liter. (1866), 448/2. That party which as far back as in the laws of our Henry I, are designated by the odd descriptive term of Acephali, a people without heads, the strange equality of levellers.
