[ARCH- 1, 2.] A chief heretic; a first heretic; a founder or leader of heresy. Arch-heresy, fundamental or extreme heresy.

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1528.  More, Heresyes, IV. Wks. 260/1. The archeheritiques themselfe, well declare the holynesse of their doctrine by theyr own liuing.

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1579.  Fulke, Ref. Rastel, 743. The Pope, the Archheretique of the world.

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1659.  Pearson, Creed (1839), 228. Simon Magus, the arch-heretic, first began.

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1858.  Froude, Hist. Eng., IV. xviii. 40. The arch-heretic Henry of England.

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1668.  Butler, Char. of Time-Server. He accounts it … arch-heresy to approve of anything … that is laid by.

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