idiotes

In the nineteenth century, German still retained the original Greek meaning of forms based on the word idiotes: a private person, withdrawn from public communal concerns, apolitical in the original sense of isolation from the larger community.

Firedoglake » Jon Tester: Report From the Front 2006

Those who preferred a private to a public life were labelled idiotes (hence our word idiot).

The Guardian World News 2010

Those who preferred a private to a public life were labelled idiotes (hence our word idiot).

The Guardian World News 2010

Those who preferred a private to a public life were labelled idiotes (hence our word idiot).

Socrates ? a man for our times Bettany Hughes 2010

“The original Greek word “idiotes” referred to people who might have had a high IQ, but were so self-involved that they focused exclusively on their own life and were both ignorant of and uncaring about public concerns and the common good.”

Think Progress » Video: Pentagon Aide Admits Having “Drilled Through” Questions For Photo-Op 2005

It is interesting that this has been manifested in the English language as well: The word “idiot” originally idiotes in Greek is just the opposite of “public” but it came to have as negative meaning as to metaphorically mean the stupid person.

Demetris Koutsoyannis « Climate Audit 2006

In the old Greek City States a man who looked after his own affairs exclusively, and did not bear any share of the burdens of public responsibility was called an idiotes -- a narrow man, a limited man, a man who cared only for himself.

The Growth of Democracy 1925

In its technical sense proprietas or idiotes signifies the special property of each Person of the Godhead, and the word is used to secure the distinctions of the three Persons and exclude any Sabellian misunderstanding.

NPNF2-09. Hilary of Poitiers, John of Damascus 1898

Paul says, 2 Cor. 11, 6, that he was idiotes to logo, rude in speech.

A Commentary on the Epistle to the Ephesians 1797-1878 1860

It was, doubtless, the exclusive contemplation of these features, which brought upon these laws the sweeping condemnation of Montesquieu, as "puériles, gauches, idiotes, -- frivoles dans le fond et gigantesques dans le style."

The History of the Reign of Ferdinand and Isabella the Catholic — Volume 1 William Hickling Prescott 1827