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autocephalous
[ aw-tuh-sef-uh-luhs ]
/ ˌɔ təˈsɛf ə ləs /
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adjective Eastern Church.
(of a church) having its own head or chief bishop, though in communion with other Orthodox churches.
(of a bishop) subordinate to no superior authority; self-governing.
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Origin of autocephalous
First recorded in 1860–65, autocephalous is from the Late Greek word autoképhalos having its own head. See auto-1, -cephalous
Words nearby autocephalous
autobus, autocade, auto caption, autocatalysis, autocatharsis, autocephalous, autocephaly, autochanger, autochrome, autochthon, autochthonous
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022
How to use autocephalous in a sentence
The Church of Cyprus has been autocephalous since at any rate the oecumenical synod of Ephesus in 431.
The Cretan Church is not, strictly speaking, autocephalous, being dependent on the patriarchate of Constantinople.
British Dictionary definitions for autocephalous
autocephalous
/ (ˌɔːtəʊˈsɛfələs) /
adjective
(of an Eastern Christian Church) governed by its own national synods and appointing its own patriarchs or prelates
(of a bishop) independent of any higher governing body
Derived forms of autocephalous
autocephalic (ˌɔːtəʊsɪˈfælɪk), adjectiveautocephaly, nounCollins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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