Quick Definition
λυμαίνομαι v. I ravage, harry, devastate
Strong's Definition
middle voice from a probably derivative of 3089 (meaning filth); properly, to soil, i.e. (figuratively) insult (maltreat)
KJV Usage: make havock of
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament
verb
20.24 · (λυμαίνομαι[a]) · Violence, Harm, Destroy, Kill · Harm, Wound
to injure severely, to maltreat to cause injury or harm by maltreatment It is also possible that λυμαίνομαι in ACT 8:3 may mean ‘to destroy’ (see 20.31).
20.31 · (λυμαίνομαι[b]) · Violence, Harm, Destroy, Kill · Destroy
to ruin, to destroy, destruction to destroy or to cause the destruction of persons, objects, or institutions In a number of languages it is difficult to find a general term for ‘destruction.’ What has often happened is the extension of meaning from a more specific type of reference, for example, ‘to smash,’ to a more generic meaning of ‘to destroy,’ and whether one understands the specific or more generic meaning depends largely upon the context. Accordingly, in ACT 8:3 one may find a figurative usage of a term meaning ‘to smash’ (though understood in a more generic sense), for example, ‘Saul then worked in order to smash the church.’
It is also possible that λυμαίνομαι in ACT 8:3 may mean ‘to injure severely’ (see 20.24).
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament © United Bible Societies, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
λυμαίνομαι : impf. ἐλυμαινόμην ; dep.mid.; (λύμη injury, ruin, contumely); fr. Aeschyl. and Hdt. down; a to affix a stigma to, to dishonor, spot, defile, (Ezek. xvi. 25; Prov. xxiii. 8; 4 Mace. xviii. 8). 2. to treat shamefully or with injury, to ravage, devastate, ruin: ἐλυμαίνετο τὴν ἐκκλησίαν, said of Saul as the cruel and violent persecutor, [A. V. made havock of |, Acts viii. 3.
Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary
λυμαίνω lymainō 1x
some list as a deponent, λυμαίνομαι, to outrage, harm, violently maltreat; in NT to make havoc of, ruin, Acts 8:3*
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
λυμαίνομαι
(< λύμη, outrage), [in LXX chiefly for שׁחת pi., hi., also for כִּרְסֵם, etc.;]
to outrage, maltreat: c. acc., Ac 8:3.
to corrupt, defile (Ez 16:25, Pr 23:8, IV Mac 18:8, al.).†
Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT
λυμαίνομαι. For an early example of the rare passive use of this verb, see the citation from P Par 6 s.v. λύκος, and cf. P Petr III. 27 recto® Ἀελυμάνθαι, in a broken context. For the verb , λυπέω construed with the acc. cf. Ῥ Leid Wii 89 (ii/ili A.D.) οὐ μή | pov λυμάνῃς σάρκα (of fire), and for the dat. see P Oxy XII. 1409" (A.D. 278) λυμαινόμενος Tots ἐπὶ τῇ σωτηρίᾳ συνπά[ση]ς τῆς Αἰγύπτου προηρ[ημέ]νοις, “injuring measures designed for the safety of the whole of Egypt ᾿᾿ (Edd.). The form λοιμαίνομαι, which occurs six times in B, may be illustrated from a ii/B.c. complaint regarding property, P Grenf I. 1715 (as completed by Gerhard Erés/reit) ἕτερα γράμματα λοιμαινάμενοι ἔβλαψαν τὰ δι᾿ αὐτῶν διάφορα : see Mayser Gr. p. 111, Moulton G*». ii. p. 83. From the inscrr. we may cite νι 5848 (i/B.C. ἢ) μηδὲ σκεῦος τῶν τῆς θεοῦ λυμαίνεσθαι, 7b. 6 5335 (B.C. 91) ἐξουσίαν ἐχέτω λυμαίνεσθαι, 26. S83" (ii/A.D.) λυμήνασθαι δὲ μηδὲ λωβήσασθαι μηδέν, (αρπαέ!ιν. 961° τούτ[ω]ν [δέ τι] ὃς ἂν λυμ[ή]νηται, ἐξώλη [εἶναι] καὶ γένος αὐτοῦ.
Liddell-Scott-Jones — Greek-English Lexicon
λυμαίνομαι (lumainomai) — to ravage. λῡμαίνομαι, (λῦμα A) __A cleanse from dirt, of fullers, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; see at {ἀπολυμαίνομαι}.