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ἀναίδεια

anaídeia

G335 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

Lack of a sense of shame or modesty; shamelessness. Specifically, persistent boldness or refusal to be deterred by social conventions regarding decorum or respect. In some contexts, denotes a negative quality ('shamelessness,' 'impudence'), but in others (e.g., in parabolic teaching), connotes positive relentless persistence that disregards customary restraint.

Semantic Range

shamelessness, lack of modesty, impudence, audacity, persistent boldness, importunity (contextual positive sense); disregard for social restraints or propriety

Root / Etymology

Compound of the alpha privative (ἀ-, negating particle) and αἰδώς (aidōs, 'reverence, respect, shame, modesty'). Thus, ἀναίδεια literally means 'lack of reverence/shame.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

Attested in classical Greek (e.g., Plato, Demosthenes) to indicate disgraceful shamelessness or barefaced audacity. In the Hellenistic and Koine periods, the word retains strongly negative associations but in didactic or rhetorical contexts can also highlight the effectiveness of persistence despite social norms, as in Luke 11:8, where ἀναίδεια refers to the bold persistence of one who asks for help. Standard English translations often use 'importunity' to soften or neutralize the term's negative connotations, but this does not fully capture its core meaning of 'shamelessness.' The nuance in Koine Greek is context-dependent: the same term can signify socially inappropriate disregard for decorum or, in positive rhetorical construction, admirable obstinacy.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from a compound of Α (as a negative particle (compare ἄνευ)) and αἰδώς; impudence, i.e. (by implication) importunity:--importunity.

Root Family

ἀναίδεια (anaideia) — shamelessness, lack of reverence, impudence, audacious persistence

Root αἰδ- to feel shame, to respect, to revere (root); negated as 'to lack shame or reverence'

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G335-01 ἀναίδειαν anaideian N ACC F SG shamelessness shameless audacity shamelessness 1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 occurrence

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G335-01 Luke 11:8 ἀναίδειαν anaideian N ACC F SG shamelessness shameless audacity shamelessness
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