Quick Definition
a divining spirit
Strong's Definition
a Python, i.e. (by analogy, with the supposed diviner there) inspiration (soothsaying)
Derivation: from (the name of the region where Delphi, the seat of the famous oracle, was located);
KJV Usage: divination
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
Πυθών, Πύθωνος, ὁ, Python;
1. in Greek mythology the name of the Pythian serpent or dragon that dwelt in the region of Pytho at the foot of Parnassus in Phocis, and was said to have guarded the oracle of Delphi and been slain by Apollo.
2. equivalent to δαιμόνιον μαντικον (Hesychius, under the word), a spirit of divination: πνεῦμα Πύθωνος, or more correctly (with L T Tr WH) πνεῦμα πύθωνα (on the union of two substantives one of which has the force of an adjective see Matthiae, p. 962, 4; (Kühner, § 405, 1; Lob. Paralip. 344f)), Act_16:16; some interpreters think that the young woman here mentioned was a ventriloquist, appealing to Plutarch, who tells us (mor., p. 414 e. de def. orac. 9) that in his time ἐγγαστριμυθοι were called πυθωνες; (cf. Meyer).
Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary
not given
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
* πύθων , -ωνος , ὁ ,
1. in cl ., Python , a serpent slain by Apollo, who is hence surnamed the Pythian.
2. In Plut . (ii, 414 E), a name given to ventriloquist soothsayers (ἐγγαστρίμυθοι ; cf. Lev_19:31 ; Lev_20:6 ; Lev_20:27 , 1Sa_28:7 ), and perhaps in this sense πνεῦμα πύθωνα , a python-spirit: Act_16:16 .†
Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT
πύθων [page 559]
For the use of this word in Act_16:16 in the sense of ventriloquist, commentators generally appeal to Plut. de defectu Oraculorum 9 τοὺς ἐγγαστριμύθους . . νῦν . . πύθωνας προσαγορευομένους , the utterance being traced to the presence of a familiar spirit (πύθων ) in the body of the speaker : cf. LXX Lev_19:31 ; 1Ki. 28:7 [MT 1Sa_28:7 ] al . Along with this the girl is described as having a certain prophetic power, μαντευομένη : cf. Suidas, πύθων· δαιμόνιον μαντικόν , and Knowling s note EGT ad Ac l.c .
Liddell-Scott — Intermediate Greek Lexicon
Πύθων Πύ_θων, ωνος, ὁ, [Etym: cf. Πυθώ] the serpent "Python", slain by Apollo. πνεῦμα Πύθωνος a spirit "of divination", NTest. : ventriloquists (ἐγγαστρίμυθοι) were called Πύθωνες, Plut.
STEPBible — Tyndale Abridged Greek Lexicon
πύθων, -ωνος, ὁ
__1. in cl., Python, a serpent slain by Apollo, who is hence surnamed the Pythian.
__2. In Plut. (ii, 414 E), a name given to ventriloquist soothsayers (ἐγγαστρίμυθοι; cf. Lev.19:31 20:6, 27, 1Ki.28:7), and perhaps in this sense πνεῦμα πύθωνα, a python-spirit: Act.16:16.†
(AS)