Lexical Definition

‎ἐπιεικής‎ epieikḗs (ep-ee-i-kace') gentle ^G:A
from ‎ἐπί‎ and ‎εἴκω‎

gentle, moderation, patient.

• appropriate, i.e. (by implication) mild

Abbott-Smith

ἐπιεικής, -ές (< εἰκός, likely), [in LXX: Ps 85(86):5* (סַלָּח), Es 8:13 * ;]
1. seemly, fitting (Hom.).
2. equitable, fair, moderate: I Ti 3:3, Tit 3:2, I Pe 2:18, Ja 3:17; τὸ ἐ. (Thuc., i, 76), Phl 4:5 (cf. Mayor, Ja, l.c., and v.s. ἐπιεικία).†
ἐπιείκεια v.s. ἐπιεικία

Abbott-Smith References

Liddell-Scott-Jones

ἐπιεικής-ής, ές,

fitting, meet, suitable, τύμβον οὐ μάλα πολλὸν.., ἀλλ᾽ ἐπιεικήςέα τοῖον not very large but meet in size, [ἐπιεικήςέ᾽ ἀμοιβήν">Refs 8th c.BC+] a fair recompense for them, [ἐπιεικήςές, either in the phrase ὡς ἐπιεικήςές">Refs 8th c.BC+] as is meet, [Refs 8th c.BC+]: or c.infinitive, ὅν κ᾽ ἐπιεικήςὲς ἀκουέμεν whom it may be meet for you to hear, [ἐπιεικήςὲς ἔργ᾽ ἔμεν ἀθανάτων">Refs 8th c.BC+] such as is meet they should be, [Refs 8th c.BC+]

__II. after [Refs 8th c.BC+]
__II.1. of statements, rights, etc.,
__II.1.a. reasonable, specious, ἡ δὲ τρίτη τῶν ὁδῶν πολλὸν ἐπιεικήςεστάτη ἐοῦσα μάλιστα [Refs 6th c.BC+]; ἐπιεικήςῆ [Refs]; ἐ. ὁδός a tolerable road, [Refs 1st c.AD+]
__II.1.b. opposed to δίκαιος, fair, equitable, not according to the letter of the law, ἐπανόρθωμα [ἐπιεικήςέστερα προτιθεῖσι 5th c.BC: Herodotus Historicus 3.53 ">Refs 5th c.BC+]; οὔτε τοὐπ. οὔτε τὴν χάριν οἶδεν, [ἐπιεικήςέστερον ἢ δικαιότερον 5th c.BC: Antipho Orator 2.2.13; ἐ. ὁμολογία 5th c.BC: Thucydides Historicus 3.4; γνώμη Aristophanes Comicus [{5-6th c.BC}] “Vespae” 1027; τὸ ἐ. καὶ σύγγνωμον Plato Philosophus [{5-6th c.BC}] “Leges” 757e ">Refs 6th c.BC+]; πρὸς τὸ ἐ., ={ἐπιεικήςῶς} [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__II.2. of persons, able, capable, [ἐπιεικήςέστατοι τῶν τριηράρχων Xenophon Historicus [{5-6th c.BC}] “Historia Graeca (Hellenica)” 1.1.30 ">Refs 6th c.BC+]; τίνες.. τῶν νέων ἐπίδοξοι γενέσθαι ἐ. may be expected to turn out well, [Refs 5th c.BC+].
__II.2.b. in moral sense, reasonable, fair, good, ἐ. τὴν ψυχήν, φύσει, [NT+5th c.BC+]; τοὐπιεικές fairness, goodness, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__II.2.c. with social or political connotation, the upper or educated classes, [Refs 4th c.BC+]
__III. adverb -κῶς, Ionic dialect -κέως, fairly, tolerably, moderately, ἐγγλύσσει ἐ. [Refs 5th c.BC+] to be pretty well, [Refs 6th c.BC+] about the fourth day, [Refs 5th c.BC+] pretty nearly, about, [Refs 2nd c.BC+] were fairly well able.., [Refs 5th c.BC+] perhaps, [Refs]
__III.2. probably, reasonably, [Refs] most suitably, [Refs]
__III.3. with moderation, mildly, kindly, [Refs 1st c.AD+]; ἐ. [Refs 6th c.BC+]: comparative [Refs].
__III.4. generally, usually, [Refs 1st c.AD+]

_{LSJ Scripture Refs: Jas.3.17}