Quick Definition
religion in general, superstition
Strong's Definition
religion
Derivation: from the same as G1174 (δεισιδαιμονέστερος);
KJV Usage: superstition
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
δεισιδαιμονία, δεισιδαιμονίας, ἡ (δεισιδαίμων), fear of the gods;
1. in a good sense, reverence for the gods, piety, religion: Polybius 6, 56, 7; Josephus, Antiquities 10, 3, 2; καί θεοφιλής βίος, Diodorus 1, 70.
2. equivalent to ἡ δειλία πρός τό δαιμόνιον (Theophrastus, char. 16 (22) at the beginning (cf. Jebb, p. 263f)); superstition: (Polybius 12, 24, 5); Plutarch (Sol. 12, 4); Alex. 75, 1; de adulat. et am. 25, and in his Essay περί τῆς δεισιδαιμονίας; Antoninus 6, 30 θεοσεβής χωρίς δεισιδαιμονίας.
3. religion, in an objective sense; in which sense Josephus, Antiquities 19, 5, 3, says Claudius commanded the Jews μή τάς τῶν ἄλλων ἐθνῶν δεισιδαιμονίας ἐξουδενίζειν. Festus in the presence of Agrippa the Jewish king employs the word ambiguously and cautiously, in Act_25:19, of the Jewish religion, viz. so as to leave his own judgment concerning its truth in suspense. Cf. Zezschwitz, Profangräcität u. Biblical Sprachgeist, p. 59; (K. F. Hermann, Lehrb. d. gottesdienstl. Alterthümer, § 8 note 6; Trench, § xlviii.; (cf. Kenrick, Biblical Essays, 1864, p. 108ff; Field, Otium Norv. iii., p. 80f)).
Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary
δεισιδαιμονία deisidaimonia 1x
fear of the gods; in a bad sense, superstition; a form of religious belief, Act_25:19
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
*† δεισιδαιμονία , -ας , ἡ ,
( < δεισιδαίμων , q.v. );
1. fear of the gods;
(a) piety, religion;
(b) superstition .
2. Objectively, a religion: Act_25:19 ( Cremer , 72, 682).†
Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT
δεισιδαιμονία [page 139]
In OGIS 455 .11 (B.C. 39) a temple-enclosure of the goddess Aphrodite is declared ἄσυλον ταὐτῷ δικαίῳ ταὐτῇ τε δεισιδαιμονίᾳ , eodem jure eademque religione as the temple of Artemis at Ephesus. It is in this general sense of religion, without any pronouncement as to whether it was right or wrong, that the word is to be understood in Act_25:19 .
Liddell-Scott — Intermediate Greek Lexicon
δεισιδαιμονία [Etym: from δεισιδαίμων] "fear of the gods, religious feeling", Polyb. : in bad sense, "superstition", Theophr.
STEPBible — Tyndale Abridged Greek Lexicon
δεισιδαιμονία, -ας, ἡ
(δεισιδαίμων, which see);
__1. fear of the gods;
__(a) piety, religion;
__(b) superstition.
__2. Objectively, a religion: Act.25:19 (Cremer, 72, 682).†
(AS)