ΑΠΟΧΗ
Abstinence (ἀποχή), a word deeply rooted in ancient Greek thought, describes the act of holding back or refraining. From Hippocratic medical practices, where it signified fasting, to the philosophical «epochē» of the Pyrrhonists, the suspension of judgment, this word expresses a controlled distance from something. Its lexarithmos (759) reflects the complexity of the concept of restraint and cessation.
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According to the Liddell-Scott-Jones Lexicon, ἀποχή (a feminine noun) primarily means “a holding off, abstinence, cessation, discontinuance.” The word derives from the verb ἀπέχω, meaning “to be away from, to keep off, to abstain from.”
In medicine, particularly in Hippocratic writings, ἀποχή refers to the avoidance of specific foods, drinks, or activities as part of a therapeutic regimen or diet. It was a fundamental principle for maintaining health and recovering from illness, often associated with fasting or temperance.
In philosophy, the concept of ἀποχή gains particular significance. In Pyrrhonism, «epochē» (essentially the same word with a different pronunciation and emphasis) refers to the suspension of judgment as a means to achieve ataraxia (imperturbability). Stoics also employed the idea of abstinence from passions and external circumstances not under one's control.
Beyond medical and philosophical uses, ἀποχή appears in broader contexts, such as abstention from military conflict, legal abstention from voting, or the general cessation of an activity. Its meaning is consistently linked to the idea of voluntary or imposed restraint and distance.
Etymology
ἀποχή belongs to the broad family of words derived from the root ἔχω/σχ-. This root generates numerous nouns, verbs, and adjectives that denote possession (ἔχω), retention (κατέχω), form (σχῆμα), relation (σχέσις), and various forms of abstinence or cessation (ἀπέχω, σχολή).
Main Meanings
- Medical Abstinence/Fasting — The avoidance of specific foods, drinks, or activities for therapeutic or dietary reasons (e.g., Hippocrates, 'On Regimen').
- Suspension of Judgment (epochē) — In philosophy, especially Pyrrhonism, the suspension of judgment as a means to achieve imperturbability (e.g., Sextus Empiricus, 'Outlines of Pyrrhonism').
- Abstinence from Passions/Pleasures — In ethical philosophy (Stoicism), the restraint from desires and emotions.
- Cessation, Discontinuance — A general sense of stopping an action or state, e.g., abstaining from battle or work.
- Legal Abstention — Non-participation in a vote or withdrawal from legal proceedings.
- Religious Abstinence — The avoidance of certain foods or actions for religious reasons, such as fasting (e.g., New Testament, Acts 15:29).
- Avoidance of Wrongdoing — Ethical abstinence from injustice or immoral behaviors.
Word Family
ech- / sch- (root of ἔχω, meaning "to hold, have, restrain")
The root ech- / sch- is one of the most fundamental and productive roots in the ancient Greek language. It primarily denotes the concept of possession, retention, standing, or state. From it arise words that describe both active possession and passive restraint, abstinence, form, or relation. The variety of its derivatives underscores its central position in expressing basic human experiences and conditions.
Philosophical Journey
The concept of ἀποχή traverses ancient Greek thought, evolving from practical medicine to high philosophy and religious ethics.
In Ancient Texts
Three characteristic passages that highlight the different facets of ἀποχή:
Lexarithmic Analysis
The lexarithmos of the word ΑΠΟΧΗ is 759, from the sum of its letter values:
759 decomposes into 700 (hundreds) + 50 (tens) + 9 (units).
The 18 Methods
Applying the 18 traditional lexarithmic methods to the word ΑΠΟΧΗ:
| Method | Result | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Isopsephy | 759 | Base lexarithmos |
| Decade Numerology | 3 | 7+5+9=21 → 2+1=3 — Triad, completeness, balance. Abstinence as a means to achieve inner balance. |
| Letter Count | 5 | 5 letters — Pentad, the number of man, of sensation, and of freedom of choice. |
| Cumulative | 9/50/700 | Units 9 · Tens 50 · Hundreds 700 |
| Odd/Even | Odd | Masculine force |
| Left/Right Hand | Right | Divine (≥100) |
| Quotient | — | Comparative method |
| Notarikon | A-P-O-CH-E | Abstinence from Passions, Optimal Conduct, and Ethical Harmony — an interpretive connection to the moral dimension of abstinence. |
| Grammatical Groups | 3V · 2C | 3 vowels (Alpha, Omicron, Eta) and 2 consonants (Pi, Chi). The balance of vowels and consonants suggests a harmonious restraint. |
| Palindromes | No | |
| Onomancy | — | Comparative |
| Sphere of Democritus | — | Divination with lunar day |
| Zodiacal Isopsephy | Sun ☉ / Cancer ♋ | 759 mod 7 = 3 · 759 mod 12 = 3 |
Isopsephic Words (759)
Words from the Liddell-Scott-Jones lexicon with the same lexarithmos (759) but a different root, highlighting coincidental numerical connections:
The LSJ lexicon contains a total of 58 words with lexarithmos 759. For the full catalog and AI semantic filtering, see the interactive tool.
Sources & Bibliography
- Liddell, H. G., Scott, R., Jones, H. S. — A Greek-English Lexicon, with a Revised Supplement. Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1996.
- Hippocrates — On Regimen, Loeb Classical Library.
- Sextus Empiricus — Outlines of Pyrrhonism, Loeb Classical Library.
- New Testament — Acts of the Apostles, Nestle-Aland Greek Text.
- Plato — Republic, Oxford Classical Texts.
- Aristotle — Categories, Oxford Classical Texts.
- Long, A. A., Sedley, D. N. — The Hellenistic Philosophers. Cambridge University Press, 1987.