Lexical Definition

‎καθαιρέω‎ kathairéō (kath-ahee-reh'-o) to take down ^G:V
from ‎κατά‎ and ‎αἱρέομαι‎ (including its alternate)

cast (pull, put, take) down, destroy.

• to lower (or with violence) demolish (literally or figuratively)

Abbott-Smith

καθ-αιρέω, -ῶ, [in LXX for נתץ, פּרץ, ירד, etc.;]
1. to take down: c. acc. pers. (the technical term for removal after crucifixion, Field, Notes, 44), Mk 15:36, 46, Lk 23:53, Ac 13:29.
2. to put down by force, pull down, destroy: ἀποθήκας, Lk 12:18 (opp. to οἰκοδομεῖν); δυνάστας, Lk 1:52; ἔθνη, Ac 13:19; pass., Ac 19:27 (diminished, Field, Notes, 129 f.); fig., to refute: λογισμούς, II Co 10:5.†

Abbott-Smith References

Liddell-Scott-Jones

καθαιρέω-έω,

Ionic dialect κατ-, Aeolic dialect κατάγρημι, which see: future -ήσω[Refs 8th c.BC+]: future [Refs 1st c.AD+]aorist 2 καθεῖλον, infinitive καθελεῖν: aorist 1 καθεῖλα [LXX]: Ionic dialect perfect participle passive καταραιρημένος [Refs 5th c.BC+]:—take down, καθείλομεν ἱστία [Refs 8th c.BC+]; κ. ἄχθος take it down, i.e. off one's shoulders, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; κ. τῶν ἐκ τῆς στοᾶς ὅπλων some of them, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; κ. τινά, from the cross, [Refs 2nd c.BC+] —middle, κατελέσθαι τὰ τόξα take down one's bow, [Refs 5th c.BC+]

__2 put down, close the eyes of the dead, ὄσσε καθαιρέωήσουσι θανόντι περ [Refs 8th c.BC+]
__3 of sorcerers, bring down from the sky, σελήνην [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__4 κατά με πέδον γᾶς ἕλοι may earth swallow me! [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__II put down by force, destroy, ὅτε κέν μιν μοῖρ᾽ ὀλοὴ καθέλῃσι [καθαιρέωεῖ 4th-5th c.BC: Aeschylus Tragicus “Agamemnon” 398 (Lyric poetry); μοῖρα τὸν φύσαντα καθεῖλε 5th c.BC: Sophocles Tragicus “Ajax” 517, compare 5th c.BC: Euripides Tragicus “Electra” 878 (Lyric poetry)">Refs 8th c.BC+], etc.; kill, slay, ταῦρον[Refs 7th c.BC+]; ἐάν τις ἀποκτείνῃ.. ἐν ὁδῷ καθελών Legal cited in [Refs 4th c.BC+]:—passive, of criminals, to be executed, [Refs 1st c.AD+]
__II.2 put down, reduce, κ. Κῦρον καὶ τὴν Περσέων δύναμιν [Refs 5th c.BC+]; καθαιρέωεθῆναι, opposed to ἀρθῆναι, [Refs 4th c.BC+]; especially depose, dethrone, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; κ. τὸ λῃστικὸν ἐκ τῆς θαλάσσης remove it utterly from.., [Refs 5th c.BC+]; κ. ὕβριν τινός [LXX+5th c.BC+]passive, καθῃρημένος τὴν αἴσθησιν bereft of sense, [Refs 1st c.AD+]; καθαιρέωεῖσθαι τῆς μεγαλειότητος [Ἀρτέμιδος] [NT]
__II.3 raze to the ground, demolish, πόλεις [LXX+5th c.BC+]; τῶν τειχῶν a part of the walls, [Refs 5th c.BC+]:—passive, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__II.4 cancel, rescind, τὸ Μεγαρέων ψήφισμα [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__II.5 as law-term, condemn, ἡ καθαιρέωοῦσα ψῆφος a verdict of guilty, [Refs 5th c.BC+]: with infinitive, ἐμὲ πάλος καθαιρέωεῖ.. λαβεῖν [Refs 5th c.BC+]; simply, decide, ὅ τι ἂν αἱ πλείους ψῆφοι καθαιρέωῶσι [Refs 1st c.BC+]; in book-keeping, ἃν καθαιρέωῶσιν αἱ ψῆφοι whatever the counters (or accounts) prove, probably in [Refs 4th c.BC+]
__II.6 reduce, τῶν αὐξανομένων καὶ καθαιρέωουμένων γραμμῶν [καθαιρέωεῖν τὰ μεγέθη 1st c.BC: Philodemus Philosophus “περὶ σημείων καὶ σημειώσεων” 9 ">Refs 4th c.BC+]; of mild caustics, τὰ ὑπερσαρκέοντα καθαιρέωεῖ (probably to be read instead of καθαίρει) [Refs 5th c.BC+]: Rhet., minimize, [Refs 4th c.BC+]
__III overpower, seize, κὰδ δέ μιν ὕπνος ᾕρει [Refs 8th c.BC+]; κ. τινά overtake, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; κ. τινὰ ἐν ἀφροσύνῃ catch in the act of folly, [Refs 5th c.BC+] seize by.., [Refs 3rd c.BC+]:—passive, κ. ὑπό τινος [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__IV fetch down as a reward or prize, καθαιρέωεῖν ἀγῶνας [Refs 1st c.AD+]: metaphorically, achieve, ἀγώνιον.. εὖχος ἔργῳ καθελών [Refs 5th c.BC+]future infinitive καθαρεῖν, παστόν, μίτραν[Refs]:—middle, φόνῳ καθαιρέωεῖσθ᾽, οὐ λόγῳ, τὰ πράγματα [Refs 5th c.BC+]:—passive, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__V less frequently like the simple αἱρεῖν, take and carry off, [Refs]

_{LSJ Scripture Refs: LXX.1Kgs.19.14 ☩ LXX.Zech.9.6 ☩ Acts.19.27 ☩ LXX.Isa.14.17}