A.Word.A.Day --acedia

A.Word.A.Day

About | Media | Search | Contact

Home

Today's Word

Yesterday's Word

Archives

FAQ

Feb 19, 2014

This week's theme
There's a word for it

This week's words
escutcheon
crural
acedia
decant
quinary

Acedia is one of the seven deadly sins in Christian theology. Others are pride, wrath, greed, lust, envy, and gluttony. What happens when you mix any two of these? Check out the above chart. Combining three or more sins is left as an exercise for the reader.

Credit: Jessica Hagy

A.Word.A.Day

with Anu Garg

acedia

PRONUNCIATION:

(uh-SEE-dee-uh)

MEANING:

noun: Apathy; boredom; sloth.

ETYMOLOGY:

From Latin acedia, from Greek akedia, from a- (not) + kedos (care). Earliest documented use: 1607.

USAGE:

"Acedia plagues the novice much more than the experienced solitary; unlike some of the new guards, I do not suffer from boredom or listlessness."
Chloe Aridjis; Asunder; Mariner Books; 2013.

See more usage examples of acedia in Vocabulary.com's dictionary.

A THOUGHT FOR TODAY:

Barricades of ideas are worth more than barricades of stones. -José Martí, revolutionary and poet (1853-1895)

We need your help

Help us continue to spread the magic of words to readers everywhere

Donate

Subscriber Services
Awards | Stats | Links | Privacy Policy
Contribute | Advertise