Lexical Definition

‎στοιχεῖον‎ stoicheîon (stoy-khi'-on) principle ^G:N-N
neuter of a presumed derivative of the base of ‎στοιχέω‎

element, principle, rudiment.

• something orderly in arrangement, i.e. (by implication) a serial (basal, fundamental, initial) constituent (literally), proposition (figuratively)

Abbott-Smith

** στοιχεῖον, -ου, τό [in LXX: Wi 7:17 19:18, IV Mac 12:13 * ;]
prop., one of a row (στοῖχος) or series, hence,
1. the shadow-line of a dial (Aristoph.).
2. an elementary sound or letter of the alphabet (Anth., Plut., π.).
3. the elements or rudiments of knowledge (Arist., al.) He 5:12; πτωχὰ σ., Ga 4:9; σ. τοῦ κόσμου, ib. 3, Col 2:8, 20 (but v. infr.).
4. The material elements of the universe (Plat.; LXX, ll. c.): II Pe 3:10, 12.
5. The heavenly bodies (Diog. Laert.).
6. The demons or tutelary spirits of nature (Enoch., Test., Sol., al.; for this sense in Ga, Col, ll. c., v. ICC on Col 2:8; Enc. Bibl., s.v. " Elements ").†

Abbott-Smith References

Liddell-Scott-Jones

στοιχεῖον, τό:

__I in a form of sun-dial, the shadow of the gnomon, the length of which in feet indicated the time of day, ὅταν ᾖ δεκάπουν τὸ σ. when the shadow is ten feet long, [Refs 5th c.BC+], see [Refs 4th c.BC+]
__II element,
__II.1 a simple sound of speech, as the first component of the syllable, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; τὸ ῥῶ τὸ σ[Refs 4th c.BC+] —στοιχεῖα therefore, strictly, were different from letters (γράμματα), [Refs 2nd c.BC+], but are frequently not clearly distinguished from them, as by [Refs 5th c.BC+]; σ. ε ¯ letter ε (in a filing-system), [Refs 2nd c.AD+]; ἀκουόμενα σ. letters which are pronounced, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]; γράμματα and ς. are expressly identified by [Refs 2nd c.BC+]; the ς. and its name are confused by [Refs 2nd c.BC+] — κατὰ στοιχεῖον in the order of the letters, alphabetically, [Refs 1st c.AD+]
__II.2 in Physics, στοιχεῖα were the components into which matter is ultimately divisible, elements, reduced to four by Empedocles, who called them ῥιζὤματα, the word στοιχεῖα being first used (accusative to [Refs 5th c.BC+], τὰ πρῶτα οἱονπερεὶ σ, ἐξ ὧν ἡμεῖς τε συγκείμεθα καὶ τἄλλα [Refs]; τὰ τῶν πάντων σ. [Refs 4th c.BC+]; ἄτομα σ. [Refs 4th c.BC+]; equivalent to ἀρχαί, Thales cited in [Refs 6th c.BC+] also distinguishes ς. from ἀρχή as less comprehensive, [Refs]; τὰ σ. ὕλη τῆς οὐσίας [Refs]; τρία τὰ σ. [Refs]; distinguished from ἀρχή on other grounds by [Refs]; ς. used in three senses by Chrysipp., [Refs]; in Medicine, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]; ἀνηλεὲς σ., of the sea, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]; τὸ σ., of the sea, [Refs 1st c.AD+]; ἄμφω τὰ σ., i.e. land and sea,[Refs 2nd c.AD+]
__II.3 the elements of proof, e.g. in general reasoning the πρῶτοι συλλογισμοί, [Refs 4th c.BC+]; in Geometry, the propositions whose proof is involved in the proof of other propositions,[Refs]; title of geometrical works by Hippocrates of Chios, Leon, Theudios, and Euclid, [Refs 5th c.AD+]: hence applied to whatever is one, small, and capable of many uses, [Refs 4th c.BC+]; to whatever is most universal, e.g. the unit and the point,[Refs]; the line and the circle, [Refs]; τὸ νόμισμα σ. καὶ πέρας τῆς ἀλλαγῆς coin is the unit.. of exchange, [Refs]; in Grammar, σ. τῆς λέξεως parts of speech, [Refs 1st c.BC+]; but also, the letters composing a word, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]; letters of the alphabet, [Refs 4th c.BC+]; σ. τοῦ λόγου the elements of speech, i.e. words, or the kinds of words, parts of speech, [Refs 4th c.BC+]
__II.4 generally, elementary or fundamental principle, ἀρξάμενοι ἀπὸ τῶν σ. [Refs 5th c.BC+]; τὸ πολλάκις εἰρημένον μέγιστον σ. [Refs 4th c.BC+]
__II.5 ἄστρων στοιχεῖα the stars, [NT+4th c.AD+]; especially planets, στοιχείῳ Διός [Refs 1st c.AD+]; so perhaps in [NT]; especially a sign of the Zodiac, [Refs 3rd c.AD+]; of the Great Bear, [Refs]
__II.6 σ. ={ἀριθμός}, as etymology of Στοιχαδεύς, Scholia 2nd c.BC: Dionysius Thrax Grammaticus p.192 H.

_{LSJ Scripture Refs: 2Pet.3.10 ☩ Gal.4.3 ☩ Col.2.8}