Byzantine

[biz-uhn-teen, -tahyn, bahy-zuhn-, bih-zan-tin]

adjective

1. of or relating to Byzantium.

2. of or relating to the Byzantine Empire.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. (sometimes lowercase),  complex or intricate.

   a deal requiring Byzantine financing.

6. (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.

7. of or relating to the Byzantine Church.

noun

1. a native or inhabitant of Byzantium.

Byzantine

/ bɪˈzænˌtaɪn, ˈbɪzənˌtiːn, baɪ-, bɪˈzæntaɪˌnɪzəm, -tiː, -ˌtaɪn, -ˌtiːn, -taɪ-, baɪ-, ˈbɪzəntiːˌnɪzəm /

adjective

1. of, characteristic of, or relating to Byzantium or the Byzantine Empire

2. of, relating to, or characterizing the Orthodox Church or its rites and liturgy

3. of or relating to the highly coloured stylized form of religious art developed in the Byzantine Empire

4. 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

5. denoting the Medieval Greek spoken in the Byzantine Empire

6. (of attitudes, etc) inflexible or complicated

noun

1. an inhabitant of Byzantium

Other Word Forms

• pre-Byzantine adjective
• Byzantinism noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of Byzantine¹

1590–1600; < Late Latin Bȳzantīnus of Byzantium; -ine ¹

Example Sentences

The most serious was the fire stared next to the ruins of the Byzantine Church of St George.

From BBC

On payday everyone in the kitchen handed money back and forth in a Byzantine rondelay of transactions as the cooks settled up the previous week’s drug debts, loans and wagers.

From Salon

Embody the Mediterranean way of life from the comfort of Los Angeles with Gohar World’s newest collection, inspired by Byzantine mosaics, the ports of Marseille, Egyptian fishing villages and spice markets in Istanbul.

From Los Angeles Times

As Elie astutely points out, even an artist as outwardly estranged from religious life as Warhol carried with him the lessons of the Polish Byzantine Order of his youth.

From Los Angeles Times

A 6th Century Byzantine bucket that has been pieced back together is believed to have been a cremation vessel, according to archaeologists.

From BBC