δεῖνα
deîna
G1170 indefinite pronoun
SILEX Entry
Definition
An indefinite demonstrative referring to a certain individual whose name is unknown, unspecified, or deliberately left unnamed; used in narrative, illustrative, or hypothetical contexts to refer to 'so-and-so' or 'a certain person.' The term functions as a placeholder when the identity of the individual is irrelevant, undisclosed, or being generalized.
Semantic Range
unnamed person, so-and-so, a certain person, placeholder for a person's name, hypothetical individual, person whose identity is deliberately omitted
Root / Etymology
The word is of uncertain etymology. Some commentators relate it to δεινός ('fearful, terrible') and its adverbial form δεινῶς, perhaps through an idiomatic association with something unspeakable or unnamed; however, there is no compelling linguistic evidence for this derivation. It is more likely preserved as a fossilized term from early Greek, adapted for indefinite reference in later usage.
Historical & Contextual Notes
δέινα is attested in classical Greek (e.g., Herodotus, Aristophanes) primarily as an equivalent of 'so-and-so' or 'such a person,' used when either the speaker does not wish to disclose the actual name, or the name is unknown or unimportant. It may introduce an illustrative or hypothetical example ('Suppose so-and-so did this...'). Its function is similar to Latin 'ille' or modern 'John Doe.' The term is rare in Koine sources and does not carry the sense of strangeness or terror sometimes suggested by later etymologies. In the New Testament and Septuagint, its use is extremely sparse or only appears in quotations of earlier literary Greek. English translations often render it as 'a certain man' or 'so and so,' but these do not precisely convey the original's pragmatic indeterminacy or the subtler range of narrative usage present in classical sources. The root idea is not one of fearfulness, but of an unspecified person. Contrasts with ἄλλος ('another') or τις ('someone'), which are more general indefinite pronouns, whereas δεινα has the nuance of intentional anonymization or narrative substitution for a name.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
probably from the same as δεινῶς (through the idea of forgetting the name as fearful, i.e. strange); so and so (when the person is not specified):--such a man.
Root Family
δεῖνα (deina) — so-and-so, a certain person, unnamed individual
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G1170-01 |
δεῖνα | deina | PRO.I ACC M SG |
certain one | a certain man | a certain man | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G1170-01 |
Matthew 26:18 | δεῖνα | deina | PRO.I ACC M SG |
certain one | a certain man | a certain man |