Accidie

views updated May 29 2018

Accidie (Gk., akēdia, ‘negligence’, ‘indifference’). In ascetical terminology, one of the principal temptations, or deadly sins. Accidie is a listlessness tempting one to give up prayer and the spiritual life. In the later English tradition it is translated as sloth, which is an oversimplification.

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of World Religions JOHN BOWKER

accidie

views updated Jun 27 2018

accidie spiritual or mental sloth; apathy. Recorded from Middle English (figuring in lists of the seven deadly sins), the word comes via Latin from Greek akēdia ‘listlessness’, from a- ‘without’ + kēdos ‘care’.

The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable ELIZABETH KNOWLES

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Accidie

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