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Byzantine
[ biz-uhn-teen, -tahyn, bahy-zuhn-, bih-zan-tin ]
adjective
- of or relating to Byzantium.
- of or relating to the Byzantine Empire.
- noting or pertaining to the architecture of the Byzantine Empire and to architecture influenced by or imitating it: characterized by masonry construction, round arches, impost blocks, low domes on pendentives, the presence of fine, spiky foliage patterns in low relief on stone capitals and moldings, and the use of frescoes, mosaics, and revetments of fine stone to cover whole interiors.
- Fine Arts. pertaining to or designating the style of the fine or decorative arts developed and elaborated in the Byzantine Empire and its provinces: characterized chiefly by an ecclesiastically prescribed iconography, highly formal structure, severe confinement of pictorial space to a shallow depth, and the use of rich, often sumptuous color.
- (sometimes lowercase) complex or intricate:
a deal requiring Byzantine financing.
- (sometimes lowercase) characterized by elaborate scheming and intrigue, especially for the gaining of political power or favor:
Byzantine methods for holding on to his chairmanship.
- of or relating to the Byzantine Church.
noun
- a native or inhabitant of Byzantium.
Byzantine
/ bɪˈzænˌtaɪn; ˈbɪzənˌtiːn; baɪ-; bɪˈzæntaɪˌnɪzəm; -tiː; -ˌtaɪn; -ˌtiːn; -taɪ-; baɪ-; ˈbɪzəntiːˌnɪzəm /
adjective
- of, characteristic of, or relating to Byzantium or the Byzantine Empire
- of, relating to, or characterizing the Orthodox Church or its rites and liturgy
- of or relating to the highly coloured stylized form of religious art developed in the Byzantine Empire
- of or relating to the style of architecture developed in the Byzantine Empire, characterized by massive domes with square bases, rounded arches, spires and minarets, and the extensive use of mosaics
- denoting the Medieval Greek spoken in the Byzantine Empire
- (of attitudes, etc) inflexible or complicated
noun
- an inhabitant of Byzantium
Derived Forms
- Byzantinism, noun
Other Word Forms
- -a·پԱ adjective
Word History and Origins
Origin of Byzantine1
Example Sentences
The church houses the Salus Populi Romani, a Byzantine icon of the Virgin believed to have been made by St Luke the Evangelist and used by Jesuit orders all over the world.
One of the personal highlights for the King was seeing the stunning Byzantine mosaics in the Basilica of San Vitale in Ravenna, a church dating to the 6th Century.
He saves his most virulent criticism for a league whose strict salary cap and Byzantine roster rules make it difficult for teams to reward excellence for more than a handful of players each season.
The small chapel, decorated in the Gothic Revival style with shimmering mosaics and Byzantine influences, is tucked away in Pearson Square, in a quiet corner of London's West End.
But this measure is a Byzantine quagmire of foggy muddle.
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