← G156 G158 →

αἰτίαμα

aitíama

G157 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

Formal accusation or charge, particularly in a legal context; refers to an official indictment or ground for complaint, usually brought before a court or authority. More generally, denotes the subject matter of a complaint, grievance, or cause for legal action.

Semantic Range

formal accusation, legal charge, complaint lodged before authorities, subject of indictment, cause for grievance

Root / Etymology

Derived from αἰτία (cause, accusation, charge), itself from the root αἰτ- meaning 'to cause' or 'to charge someone with.' αἰτίαμα is a nominal form indicating something caused or charged — i.e., an accusation.

Historical & Contextual Notes

αἰτίαμα occurs rarely in surviving Greek literature and is used primarily in legal or official settings. In Hellenistic and Roman-period Greek (including the Septuagint and Josephus), it specifically denotes a formal charge brought against someone, often in judicial proceedings. In the New Testament, the term appears in contexts of legal accusation, reflecting Greek juridical language rather than colloquial complaint. English translations sometimes render it as 'complaint,' 'accusation,' or 'charge'; however, the term typically implies a formal or written allegation, not merely a verbal grievance. This distinguishes it from related terms like κατηγορία (public accusation) or ἔλεγχος (proof, refutation).

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from a derivative of αἰτία; a thing charged:--complaint.

Root Family

αἰτίαμα (aitíama) — formal accusation, legal charge, indictment, cause for complaint

Root αἰτ- to cause, to accuse, to charge

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G157-01 αἰτιώματα aitiomata N ACC N PL accusations formal accusations formal accusations 1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 occurrence

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G157-01 Acts 25:7 αἰτιώματα aitiomata N ACC N PL accusations formal accusations formal accusations
← G156 Greek Lexicon G158 →