Added 10 October 2026
acedia
/əˈsiːdɪə/ noun
Latin root: acēdia Wiktionary
noun Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about acedia at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
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Spiritual or mental sloth and the feeling it provokes; apathy or indifference; a lack of care or interest and the resultant avoidance of duties; a bored melancholy leading to desperation, restlessness and anxiety.
Her acedia kept her trapped in a cycle of depression and torpor.
Origin
Borrowed from Latin acēdia, borrowed from Ancient Greek ἀκηδίᾱ (akēdíā), from ἀκηδής (akēdḗs, “careless”) + -ίᾱ (-íā). Doublet of accidie.
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)