HOW TO PRONOUNCE
byzantine
/ˈbɪzəntiːn/
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American Pronunciation Guide · 0:49
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What does byzantine mean?
adjective
- Alternative letter-case form of Byzantine (figurative senses only).
- Of or pertaining to Byzantium.
- Belonging to the civilization of the Eastern Roman Empire between 331, when its capital was moved to Constantinople, and 1453, when that capital was conquered by the Turks and ultimately renamed Istanbul.
More meanings (9)
adjective
- Of a style of architecture prevalent in the Eastern Empire down to 1453, marked by the round arch springing from columns or piers, the dome supported upon pendentives, capitals elaborately sculptured, mosaic or other encrustations, etc.
- (figuratively) Overly complex or intricate, especially of bureaucracy.
- (figuratively) Rigid, unceasing, inflexible.
- (figuratively) Devious and stealthy.
- Of or relating to the Byzantine Rite or any of the many Eastern Orthodox churches and Greek Catholic churches that use this rite for their liturgical celebrations.
noun
- Alternative form of byzantine (coin)
- A dark, metallic shade of violet.
- (historical) A byzant (coin).
- (historical) A native of Byzantium (modern-day Istanbul) or of the Byzantine empire
Definitions regrouped for readability · CC BY-SA 4.0
IPA pronunciation
/ˈbɪzəntiːn/
Wiktionary contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0 ↗Pronunciation varies by speaker and region. About these dictionary pronunciations.
In the pages of books
See this word in context.
And will there still be a sufficient spur to progress to prevent a condition of Byzantine immobility?
And this, and one other to Pelops, the Byzantine, are the only two of his Greek epistles which seem to be written in anger.
More book examples (3)
The Byzantine historians were furiously angry with the Saracens; why did they, one and all, neglect to mention such an outrageous piece of vandalism?
It probably belongs to the Byzantine period, and if the number of old graves scattered among the hills indicate anything, it has in its day been the theatre of stirring tragedy.
Between the third century and the fall of Constantinople there was a continuous series of Byzantine physicians whose inspiration was largely derived from the old Greek sources.