sb. and a. [ad. Gr. ἄναρχ-ος without a chief or head; cf. Fr. anarche in Cotgr., 1611. But the Eng. use is conformed to that of other derivatives in -arch, as monarch, tetrarch, etc.]
A. sb. An author of anarchy; a leader of revolt.
1667. Milton, P. L., II. 988. Thus Satan: and him thus the Anarch old … answer’d.
1728. Pope, Dunc., III. 339. Lo! the great Anarch’s ancient reign restor’d.
1818. Byron, Childe Har., II. xlv. Imperial anarchs doubling human woes.
1848. H. Miller, First Impress., xvii. (1857), 283. The old anarch of Infidelity is sure always to effect a transitory lodgment.
B. adj. [The sb. used attrib.] rare.
a. 1822. Shelley, Triumph of Life. The anarch chiefs, whose force and murderous snares Had founded many a sceptre-bearing line.
