acedia
Americannoun
Etymology
Origin of acedia
1600–10; < Late Latin acēdia < Greek akḗdeia, equivalent to akēdḗ ( s ) ( a- a- 6 + -kēdēs, adj. derivative of kêdos care, anxiety) + -ia -ia
Explanation
Acedia is a state of apathy or dissatisfaction with one's life. Ever felt so sluggish and indifferent that you just couldn't bring yourself to care about anything? That heavy feeling is sometimes called acedia. The word acedia comes from the Greek akēdia, meaning "lack of care" or "negligence." Fourth-century monks called it the "Noonday Demon," related to intense boredom, restlessness, and a desire to abandon one's spiritual vocation. Historically, acedia was associated with one of the "seven deadly sins," sloth — though referring to something much deeper than just physical laziness. In more modern contexts, acedia may describe any overwhelming feeling of existential emptiness or purposelessness.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Acedia, the theological version of melancholia, was the medieval view that exhaustion was considered sinful.
From National Geographic
He was, he wrote, a victim of "Acedia, the malady of monks," the deadly weakness of the will which leads to sloth and idleness.
From Time Magazine Archive
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
