Lexical Definition

‎παραιτέομαι‎ paraitéomai (par-ahee-teh'-om-ahee) to refuse/excuse ^G:V
from ‎παρά‎ and the middle voice of ‎αἰτέω‎

avoid, (make) excuse, intreat, refuse, reject.

• to beg off, i.e. deprecate, decline, shun

Abbott-Smith

παρ-αιτέομαι, -οῦμαι, [in LXX for בּקשׁ pi., etc.;]
1. to beg of or from another: Mk 15:6 (Rec. ὅνπερ ᾐτοῦντο, v. Field, Notes, 43).
2. to deprecate;
(a) prop., c. neg., to entreat that not (Thuc., al.): He 12:19;
(b) to refuse, decline, avoid: o. acc., I Ti 4:7 5:11, II Ti 2:23, Tit 3:10, He 12:25 (EV; but v. Field, Notes, 234).
3. to beg off, ask to be excused, excuse (Polyb., al.) : Lk 14:18, 19 (He 12:25, Field, Notes, 234).†

Abbott-Smith References

Liddell-Scott-Jones

παραιτέομαι-έομαι,

beg of or from another, ask as a favour of him, τινά τι [Refs 5th c.BC+]; τι [Refs 5th c.BC+]: with infinitive added, ἓν δ᾽ αὐτοὺς παραιτέομαιησώμεθα, ἐπίδηλον ἡμῖν.. ποιεῖν, ἢν τοῖς ἔπεσι χαίρωσι [Refs 5th c.BC+]: with infinitive for accusative, θεοὺς παραιτέομαιοῦ τῶν σ᾽ ἔρως ἔχει τυχεῖν [Refs 4th c.BC+]; Προμηθέα -εῖται Ἐπιμηθεὺς αὐτὸς νεῖμαι asks P. for permission to.., [Refs 5th c.BC+]

__2 παραιτέομαιησάμενος βασιλέα having obtained the king's leave, [Refs 5th c.BC+]: generally, intercede with, appeal to a person, [παραιτέομαιοῦμαί σε 5th c.BC: Euripides Tragicus “Heraclidae” 1026, compare 5th-6th c.BC: Aristophanes Comicus “Vespae” 1257 ">Refs 5th c.BC+]; π. σφέας, ὡς ἄξουσι.. entreating them and saying that.., [Refs 5th c.BC+]: with double accusative, beg one's pardon for.., σὲ παραιτέομαιοῦμαι τάδε [παραιτέομαιοῦμαι 5th-6th c.BC: Andocides Orator 3.21, compare 2nd c.BC: Polybius Historicus 39.1.6. ">Refs 5th c.BC+]
__3 with accusative et infinitive, entreat one to.., [Refs 5th c.BC+]; παραιτέομαιήσομαι δ᾽ ὑμᾶς μηδὲν ἀχθεσθῆναί μοι [Refs 4th c.BC+]: with genitive person et infinitive, beg of.., παραιτέομαιήσῃ πατρὸς φυγὰς ἀφεῖναι [Refs 5th c.BC+]: with infinitive only, π. μηδὲν τούτων δρᾶν [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__II with accusative of things, avert by entreaty, deprecate, τὴν ὀργήν [παραιτέομαιουμένοις [πρᾷοί εἰσιν] 4th c.BC: Aristoteles Philosophus “Rhetorica” 1380a28, compare “PCair.Zen.” 482.14 (3rd c.BC). ">NT+4th c.BC+]
__II.2 decline, deprecate, χάριν [NT+5th c.BC+]; π. [τὰ ὦτα] refuse to hear, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]; refuse, βρώσεις [Refs 3rd c.AD+]infinitive, παλιλλογεῖν παρῄτηται [παραιτέομαιοῦ φαγεῖν κάπρου κεφαλήν 2nd-3rd c.AD: Hermes Trismegistus in “Rev.Phil.” 32.252">Refs 8th c.BC+]; also τοὺς πολλοὺς χαρακτῆρας παρῃτημέναι εἰσὶν αἱ ἀντωνυμίαι do not admit.., [Refs 2nd c.AD+]; reject a theory, interpretation, or M[Refs 5th c.BC+]; except, [Refs]; reject the use of, avoid, τὴν λογικήν [Refs 2nd c.AD+]
__II.2.b demand exemption from, τὴν εἰς τὸ μέλλον γεωργίαν [Refs 2nd c.AD+]; ἀρχήν [Refs 3rd c.AD+]
__II.3 with accusative person, ask him to excuse one, decline his invitation, [Refs 2nd c.BC+]; παραιτέομαιησάμενος Ἔφορον, Latin pace Ephori, [NT]passive, ἔχε με παρῃτημένον[Refs]
__II.4 π. γυναῖκα divorce her, [Refs 1st c.AD+]; π. οἰκέτην dismiss him, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]:—passive, τὴν παραίτησιν ᾗ παρὰ τοῦ Καρακάλλου παρῄτητο [Refs 2nd c.AD+]
__II.5 of medicines, relieve, ναυσίαν [Refs 1st c.AD+]
__III with accusative person, intercede for, beg off, especially from punishment, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; Θεσσαλοὺς τοῦ Μηδισμοῦ π. excuse them from the charge of Medism, [Refs 5th c.BC+]

_{LSJ Scripture Refs: Acts.25.11 ☩ 1Tim.4.7 ☩ Luke.14.18}