Quick Definition
ἐπιεικής, ές Adj gentle, mild, forbearing, fair, reasonable
Strong's Definition
from 1909 and 1503; appropriate, i.e. (by implication) mild
KJV Usage: gentle, moderation, patient
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament © United Bible Societies, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
ἐπιεικής, -€s, (εἰκός, what is reasonable) ; 1. seemly, suitable, (fr. Hom. down). 2. equitable, fair, mild, gentle: 1 Tim. iii. 3; Tit. iii. 2; 1 Pet. ii. 18; Jas. iii. 17. Neut. τὸ ἐπιεικὲς (as often in Grk. writ. fr. Thue. down) ὑμῶν i. 4. ἡ ἐπιείκεια ὑμῶν, Phil. iv. 5. θπ.7
Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary
ἐπιεικής epieikēs 5x
pr. suitable; fair, reasonable; gentle, mild, patient, 1 Tim. 3:3; Tit. 3:2; Jas. 3:17; 1 Pet. 2:18; τὸ ἐπιεικές, mildness, gentleness, Phil. 4:5*
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
ἐπιεικής, -ές
(< εἰκός, likely), [in LXX: Ps 85(86):5 (סַלָּח), Es 8:13 * ;]
seemly, fitting (Hom.).
equitable, fair, moderate: I Ti 3:3, Tit 3:2, I Pe 2:18, Ja 3:17; τὸ ἐ. (Thuc., i, 76), Phl 4:5 (cf. Mayor, Ja, l.c., and v.s. ἐπιεικία).†
ἐπιείκεια v.s. ἐπιεικία
Liddell-Scott-Jones — Greek-English Lexicon
ἐπιεικής (epieikēs) — gentle. ἐπιεικ-ής, ές, fitting, meet, suitable, τύμβον οὐ μάλα πολλὸν.., ἀλλ᾽ ἐπιεικέα τοῖον not very large but meet in size, [Refs 8th c.BC+] a fair recompense for them, [Refs 8th c.BC+] as is meet, [Refs 8th c.BC+]: or c.infinitive, ὅν κ᾽ ἐπιεικὲς ἀκουέμεν whom it may be meet for you to hear, [Refs 8th c.BC+] such as is meet they should be, [Refs 8th c.BC+]
II. after [Refs 8th c.BC+]
II.1. of statements, rights, etc.,
II.1. a. reasonable, specious, ἡ δὲ τρίτη τῶν ὁδῶν πολλὸν ἐπιεικεστάτη ἐοῦσα μάλιστα [Refs 6th c.BC+]; ἐπιεικῆ [Refs]; ἐ. ὁδός a tolerable road, [Refs 1st c.AD+]
II.1. b. opposed to δίκαιος, fair, equitable, not according to the letter of the law, ἐπανόρθωμα [Refs 5th c.BC+]; οὔτε τοὐπ. οὔτε τὴν χάριν οἶδεν, [Refs 6th c.BC+]; πρὸς τὸ ἐ., ={ἐπιεικῶς} [Refs 5th c.BC+]
II.2. of persons, able, capable, [Refs 6th c.BC+]; τίνες.. τῶν νέων ἐπίδοξοι γενέσθαι ἐ. may be expected to turn out well, [Refs 5th c.BC+].
II.2. b. in moral sense, reasonable, fair, good, ἐ. τὴν ψυχήν, φύσει, [NT+5th c.BC+]; τοὐπιεικές fairness, goodness, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
II.2. c. with social or political connotation, the upper or educated classes, [Refs 4th c.BC+]
III. adverb -κῶς, Ionic dialect -κέως, fairly, tolerably, moderately, ἐγγλύσσει ἐ. [Refs 5th c.BC+] to be pretty well, [Refs 6th c.BC+] about the fourth day, [Refs 5th c.BC+] pretty nearly, about, [Refs 2nd c.BC+] were fairly well able.., [Refs 5th c.BC+] perhaps, [Refs]
III.2. probably, reasonably, [Refs] most suitably, [Refs]
III.3. with moderation, mildly, kindly, [Refs 1st c.AD+]; ἐ. [Refs 6th c.BC+]: comparative [Refs].
III.4. generally, usually, [Refs 1st c.AD+]