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.
Perhaps the best term for Fran’s persistent mood is acedia, that feeling of not caring much about anything, especially one’s position in the world.
From New York Times • Jan. 25, 2024
The literal meaning of acedia, derived from Greek, is something like "not caring," which explains why "boring" is subjective.
From Salon • Dec. 5, 2021
For instance, Aldous Huxley argued that acedia had only intensified with the onset of modern life.
From The Guardian • May 29, 2019
Ego citare hic est, ab D.nus Thomas Doyle, olim molestie Vaticanae Legationem in Washington et maturam aestimator Ecclesiae catholicae acedia respondendo ad puer-raptu allegationes exercent.
From Slate • Feb. 11, 2013
What in Petrarch was a tendency, became an established condition in Rousseau: the acedia reached its climax.
From The Development of the Feeling for Nature in the Middle Ages and Modern Times by Biese, Alfred
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.
