acephalous
Americanadjective
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Zoology. Also acephalic headless; lacking a distinct head.
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without a leader or ruler.
adjective
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having no head or one that is reduced and indistinct, as certain insect larvae
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having or recognizing no ruler or leader
Etymology
Origin of acephalous
1725–35; < Greek aképhalos; see a- 6, -cephalous
Explanation
Anything that is acephalous is headless — like the acephalous horseman of folklore. The term acephalous refers to organisms that lack a head, or to a group or society with no leader, or "head." Clams, oysters, mussels, and scallops are acephalous, as are sea stars, sea urchins, and sponges. Some historical tribal societies were acephalous: they had no one formal, decision-making authority. Leaderless digital communities and music bands are acephalous. The term is also used in poetry: An acephalous line is missing its first syllable based on an expected metrical pattern — e.g., "da-DUM da-DUM" becomes "DUM da-DUM." The term acephalous comes from Greek, where a- means "without" and kephalē means "head."
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Sandiford had divided acephalous animals into three classes: the first, in which the head was wanting; the second, where other organs were also missing; and the third, where the fœtus presented an unformed mass.
From Curiosities of Medical Experience by J. G. (John Gideon) Millingen
With these important prisoners he dashed away, leaving the acephalous enemy to capture his broken columns if he could.
From The Late Mrs. Null by Frank Richard Stockton
In the acephalous twin described by Béclard, no liver, spleen, stomach, or œsophagus could be discovered, and the intestinal tube commenced at the superior extremity of the body.
From Curiosities of Medical Experience by J. G. (John Gideon) Millingen
Pare, Benivenius, and Columbus describe adults with acephalous monsters attached to them.
From Anomalies and Curiosities of Medicine by Walter L. (Walter Lytle) Pyle
Does psychometry compare with astronomy and geology in its scientific rank, or does it compare with the acephalous biology, which occupies all medical colleges?
From Buchanan's Journal of Man, April 1887 Volume 1, Number 3 by Joseph R. (Joseph Rodes) Buchanan
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
