[ARCH- 1, 2.] Chief rebel, leader of rebellion. Hence Arch-rebellious a.
1583. Ld. Burleigh, Exec. Treason (1675), 33. An end due to such an Arch-rebel.
1611. Speed, Hist. Gt. Brit., IX. ix. 102. The Arch-rebellious Earle of Leicester.
1648. Milton, Observ. Art. Peace, Wks. 1847, 263/2. Dillon and other arch-rebels.
1765. Tucker, Lt. Nat., I. 508. The arch rebel would pinch me to nothing with a gripe of his iron claw.
1853. Talfourd, Castil., V. iv. The brother of the arch-rebels wife?