Main Entry: au·to·ceph·a·lous

Pronunciation: \ˌȯ-tō-ˈse-f(ə-)ləs\

Function: adjective

Etymology: Late Greek autokephalos, from Greek aut- + kephalē head — more at cephalic

Date: 1863

: being independent of external and especially patriarchal authority —used especially of Eastern national churches

— au·to·ceph·a·ly \-fə-lē\ noun