Quick Definition
ἄσημος, ον Adj undistinguished, obscure
Strong's Definition
from 1 (as a negative particle) and the base of 4591; unmarked, i.e. (figuratively) ignoble
KJV Usage: mean
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament
adjc. | -ον | ἀ- + σημαίνω
87.59 · Status · Low Status or Rank [including persons of low status]
low, insignificant, inferior pertaining to being obscure or insignificant, with the possible implication of lacking in noble descent In a number of languages, however, it would be important to avoid the double negative in ACT 21:39 (despite the effectiveness of the litotes in Greek) by translating ‘a citizen of an important city.’
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament © United Bible Societies, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
ἄσημος, -ov, (σῆμα a mark), unmarked or unstamped (money); unknown, of no mark, insignificant, ignoble : Acts xxi. 39. (3 Mace. i. 3; in Grk. writ. fr. Hdt. down; trop. fr. Eur. down.)
Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary
ἄσημος asēmos 1x
pr. not marked; met. not noted, not remarkable, unknown to fame, ignoble, mean, inconsiderable, Acts 21:39*
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
ἄσημος, -ον
(< σῆμα, a mark), [in LXX: Ge 30:42 (עטף), Jb 42:11, III Mac 1:3*;]
without mark (in π. of an uncircumcised boy: Deiss., BS, 153; MM, s.v.). Metaph. (MM, s.v.), unknown, obscure: litotes, οὐκ ἄ (Eur., al.), πόλις, Ac 21:39.†
Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT
ἄσημος. This word occurs perpetually in the papyri to denote a man who is “ not distinguished ” from his neighbours by the convenient scars on eyebrow or arm or right shin which identify so many individuals in formal documents. Thus in P Oxy I. 7328 (A.D. 94) a slave is described as μελίχρωτ[α μακρ])οπίρ]όσωπον ἄσημον, and similarly in P Fay 2815 f (A.D. 150-1) (= Selections, p. 82) the parents in giving notice of the birth of a son sign themselves— Ἰσχυρ]ᾶς (ἐτῶν) μὸ ἄσημος Θαισάριον (ἐτῶν) kd ἄσημος. From the fact that in BGU I. 347 (1i/A.D.), an as yet uncircumcised boy is twice described as ἄσημος, Deissmann (BS p. 153) conjectures that & may have been the technical term for ‘‘ uncircumcised ’’ among the Greek Egyptians, but cites Krebs (PAz/o/ogus lili, p. 586), who interprets it rather as = ‘‘free from bodily marks owing to the presence of which circumcision was forborne’’: cf. Preisigke 161° (A.D. 155-6), where formal enquiry is made as to a priest’s sons, εἴ τινα σημεῖ[α ἔχουσιν, and leave for circumcision is
Liddell-Scott-Jones — Greek-English Lexicon
ἄσημος (asēmos) — insignificant. ἄσημος, Doric dialect ἄσᾱμος, ον, without mark or token, ἄ. χρυσός uncoined gold, bullion, or plate, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἄ. χρυσίον, ἀργύριον, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; frequently in Inscrr., opposed to ἐπίσημον, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]; also of cattle, not branded, [Refs]; of persons, without distinguishing marks (e. g. οὐλαί), [Refs]; ἄ. ὅπλα arms without device, [Refs 5th c.BC+]: generally, shapeless, formless, [Refs 3rd c.AD+]
2. later τὸ ἄσημον (i.e. ἀργύριον) plate, silver, [LXX+6th c.AD+]; μέταλλα ἀσήμου silver-mines, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]: also, = electron, alloy of gold and silver, or an imitation thereof, [Refs 5th c.BC+]:—masculine ἄσημος, ὁ, [Refs]
II. of sacrifices, oracles, and the like, unintelligible, χρηστήρια[Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἄ. ὀργίων μαντεύματε [Refs 5th c.BC+]
III. leaving no mark, indistinct,
III. a to the hearing, πτερῶν γὰρ ῥοῖβδος οὐκ ἄ. ἦν [Refs]; of sounds and voices, inarticulate, unintelligible, ἄσημα φράζειν[Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἄσημα βοῆς, ={ἄσημος βοή}, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
III. b without significance, meaningless, [τοῦ διπλοῦ ὀνόματος] τὸ μὲν ἐκ σημαίνοντος καὶ ἀσήμου[Refs 4th c.BC+]; ἄσημα τρίζειν, of a mouse, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]
III. c to the eye, ἄσημον ἔχειν μυελόν[Refs 4th c.BC+]
III. d generally, unperceived, unnoticed, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἀσήμων ὑπὲρ ἑρμάτων hidden, sunken rocks, [Refs 6th c.BC+]
IV. of persons, cities, etc., of no mark, obscure, insignificant, οὐκ ἄ.[Refs 5th c.BC+]; νὺξ οὐκ ἄ. a night to be remembered (being a feast), [Refs 5th c.BC+]
V. adverb -μως without leaving traces,[Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἀ. καὶ κενῶς φθέγγεσθαι inarticulately, [Refs 4th c.BC+]
V.2. ignobly, οὐκ ἀ.[Refs 1st c.BC+]