What is the word for truth and its meaning in Koine Greek?
Last Updated: 29.06.2025 23:53
the word is composed of the privative prefix α- and λήθη/lethe which means “forgetfulness/stupor”. So the αλήθεια means “without fault/stupor/hiding”
as a result Alitheia, the Goddess of Truth, was always depicted as a naked, unassuming and plain looking woman. The Latin equivalent was nuda Veritas. Truth has nothing to hide and didn’t need all the adornments of the other gods.
Nuda Veritas is the derivation of the term “Naked Truth”.
The word you are looking for is:
αλὴθεια / Alithea.
The Greek word for thief/robber/pirate is ληστής/listis which is derived from λανθάνω as well
The root verb is λανθάνω/lanthano=to escape notice/to make one forget/to lay hidden
The word has remained the same into Modern Greek
a couple of points:
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There is absolutely no relation to λίθος/lithos=stone. Notice the η vs ι.
A similarly derived word is ληθαργία/lethargia=toiling under forgetfulness/stupor….lethargy.