apoikia
|a-poi-ki-a|
/ˌæpɔɪˈkiːə/
settlement away from home
Etymology
'apoikia' originates from Ancient Greek, specifically the word 'ἀποικία' (apoikía), where 'ἀπό' (apó) meant 'away from' and 'οἶκος' (oîkos) meant 'house' or 'home'.
'apoikia' passed from Ancient Greek ἀποικία into scholarly and ecclesiastical Latin and later entered modern English usage in academic and biblical contexts as 'apoikia'.
Initially it meant 'a settlement founded by emigrants' (a colony), and over time the meaning broadly remained but also extended to denote 'diaspora community' or 'exile/sojourn' in certain contexts (e.g., New Testament usage).
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a colony or settlement founded by people who have left their homeland; especially used of ancient Greek colonial settlements.
The apoikia on the island prospered through trade.
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Noun 2
a community of expatriates or a diaspora community living away from their native land.
The letters described the apoikia of Jewish settlers in the region.
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Noun 3
in ancient usage, the act or status of founding a colony or being a colonist.
The founding of an apoikia was a major civic event in the polis.
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Last updated: 2025/09/20 03:14