Quick Definition
ἀγοραῖος, ον Adj a lounger in the market-place
Strong's Definition
from 58; relating to the market-place, i.e. forensic (times); by implication, vulgar
KJV Usage: baser sort, low
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament
adjc. | -ον | ἀγοράζω
88.251 · Moral and Ethical Qualities and Related Behavior · Laziness, Idleness
loafer, bum (derivative of ἀγορά ‘marketplace,’ 57.207) a person who habitually idles in the marketplace
56.1 · Courts and Legal Procedures · Court of Justice
court, court of justice a court of justice for determining guilt or innocence For languages which do not have technical terms for a court, it is usually possible to use some such phrase as ‘to be brought before a judge’ or ‘to have judges decide one’s case.’
1 There are no doubt certain subtle differences of meaning in these terms (ἀγοραῖος[b], κριτήριον[a], κρίσις[c], ἡμέρα[e]), especially in their connotations, but it is not possible to specify the difference on the basis of existing contexts.
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament © United Bible Societies, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
ἀγοραῖος (rarely -aia), -αἴον, (ἀγορά), relating to the market-place; 1. frequenting the market-place, (either transacting business, as the κάπηλοι, or) sauntering idly, (Lat. subrostranus, subbasilicanus, Germ. Pflastertreter, our loafer): Acts xvii. 5, (Plat. Prot. 347 ¢. ἀγοραῖοι καὶ φαῦλοι, Arstph. ran. 1015, al.). 2. of affairs usually transacted in the market-place: ἀγοραῖοι (sc. ἡμέραι [ W. 590 (549)] or σύνοδοι [Mey. et al.]) ἄγονται, judicial days or assemblies, [A. V. mrg. court-days], Acts xix. 88 (τὰς dyopaious ποιεῖσθαι, Strabo 13, p. 932), but many think we ought to read ἀγύραιοι here, so G L ef. W. 53 (52); but see [Alf. and Tdf. ad loc.; Lipsius, Gram. Untersuch. p. 26;] Meyer on Acts xvii. 5; Gottling p- 297; [Chandler ed. 1 p. 269].
Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary
ἀγοραῖος agoraios 2x
one who visits the forum; a lounger, one who idles away his time in public places, a low fellow, Acts 17:5; pertaining to the forum, judicial; ἀγόραιοι, court days, Acts 19:38*
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
* ἀγοραῖος, -ον
(< ἀγορά),
frequenting the ἀγορά, a lounger in the ἀγορά (Xen., al.): Ac 17:5.
In late writers (Strab., al.), proper to the ἀγορά: ἀγοραῖοι (sc. ἥμεραι) ἀγονται (cf. Lat. conventus agere), court-days are kept, Ac 19:38 (for exx. of both usages, v. MM, VGT, s.v.).†
Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT
ἀγοραῖος. Prof. Lake (Zarlier Epistles of St. Paul, p. 69 n+) regards ἀγοραίων in Ac 17° as ‘‘ agitators,” in view of Plutarch demz7. aul. 38, ἀνθρώπους ἀγεννεῖς καὶ δεδουλευκότας, ayopatous δὲ καὶ δυναμένους ὄχλον συναγαγεῖν, a neat double parallel. In Syd 55.355 (ii/B.c.) it is used of “" merchants,” ‘‘ dealers.” The grammarian Ammonius (iv/A.D.) would distinguish ἀγοραῖος = ἐν ἀγορᾷ τιμώμενος from aydpatos — ἐν ἀγορᾷ τεθραμμένος : Cronert remarks that the MSS. vary. For the special use seen in Ac 19%8, ἀγοραῖοι ἄγονται Kal ἀνθύπατοί εἰσιν, Wilcken (Avchzv iv. ει, under ἀγορά) can only cite from the papyri P Oxy III. 4711*° (an advocate’s speech, ii/A.D.) [τὰ] Tod. [. . . . .] ἀγοραίου κριτήρ[ια, where it is derived from ἀγορά = forzm, (He quotes a striking parallel to the whole phrase of Ac Zc. from P Flor I. 614% (a.p. 86-8) ὅπου διαλογισμοὶ καὶ ἡγέμονες παραγενόμενοι.) In OGTS 4845 (1i/A.D.), however, an imperial rescript addressed to the Pergamenes, we find tats ἀγοραίοις πιπρασκομένων : unfortunately there are gaps on each side, but the gender shows that ἡμέραι is understood, denoting in this connexion “‘market days.” See also Ramsay’s notes on the a&yopata (σύνοδος), conventus zuridicus, at Apamea, C. and B. nos. 294, 295 (ii. p. 461, also p. 428): also Cagnat IV. 790 and note, aypos
Liddell-Scott-Jones — Greek-English Lexicon
ἀγοραῖος (agoraios) — of the marketplace. ἀγοραῖος [ᾰγ], ον, (feminine -αία epithet of Artemis and Athena, see below):— in, of, or belonging to the ἀγορά, Ζεὺς Ἀ. as guardian of popular assemblies, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; Ἑρμῆς Ἀ. as patron of traffic, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; Ἄρτεμις Ἀ. at Olympia, [Refs]; Ἀθηνᾶ Ἀ. at Sparta, [Refs 4th c.BC+]
2. of things, τὰ ἀ. details of market-business, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
II. frequenting the market, ὁ ἀ. ὄχλος[Refs 5th c.BC+] —ἀγοραῖοι (with or without ἄνθρωποι), οἱ, those who frequented the ἀγορά, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; opposed to ἔμποροι, [Refs 5th c.BC+], but = traders (i.e. sutlers), [Refs 2nd c.AD+]:—hence, the common sort, low fellows, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; of agitators, [NT+1st c.AD+]: comparative, the baser sort, [Refs 1st c.BC+]. adverb -αίως, λέγειν[Refs 1st c.BC+]
II.2. of things, vulgar, σκώμματα[Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἀ. φιλία (opposed to ἐλευθέριος) [Refs 4th c.BC+]; common, ἄρτοι[Refs 2nd c.AD+]
III. generally, proper to the ἀγορά, skilled in, suited for forensic speaking, [Refs 1st c.AD+] —ἀγοραος (i.e. ἡμέρα) court-day, assize, τὰς ἀ. ποιεῖσθαι[Refs 1st c.BC+]; ἄγειν τὴν ἀ. Epist. Galb. cited in [NT+1st c.AD+]adverb -ως in forensic style, [Refs 1st c.AD+]
III.2. ἀγοραῖος, ὁ, = tabellio, notary, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]; also, pleader, advocate, in plural, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]
III.2. b ἀγοραῖος, ἡ, market-day, [Refs] vulgar, ἀγοραῖος public speaker, drawn by [Refs 5th c.AD+]