Meanings
nounaition (plural aitia)
plural aitia
- Greekhuman sciencesAn origin story or myth in Ancient Greece.
This helps us to understand why Greek initiatory rituals are so often accompanied by an explanatory story—technically, the aition—in which the god appears twice, as the adversary of the people and as their protector. These aitia typically follow a three-part scenario […]
2020, David M. Halperin et al., editors, Before Sexuality, Princeton University Press, →ISBN, page 123
Origin
- Ancient Greekαἴτιον“cause”
- Englishaition
From Ancient Greek αἴτιον (aítion, “cause”).
More words from Ancient Greek
Full word history & related roots →Rhymes & wordplay
Anagrams
Cite this entry
APA
aition. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/aition
MLA
“aition.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/aition. Accessed November 3, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “aition,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/aition.
Source: aition on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.