polyglot

[ pol-ee-glot ]

adjective

1. able to speak or write several languages; multilingual.
2. containing, composed of, or written in several languages:

   a polyglot Bible.

noun

1. a mixture or confusion of languages.
2. a person who speaks, writes, or reads a number of languages.
3. a book, especially a Bible, containing the same text in several languages.

polyglot

/ ˈpɒlɪˌɡlɒt /

adjective

1. having a command of many languages
2. written in, composed of, or containing many languages

noun

1. a person with a command of many languages
2. a book, esp a Bible, containing several versions of the same text written in various languages
3. a mixture or confusion of languages

Derived Forms

• ˈpolyˌglotism, noun

Other Words From

• poly·glotism noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of polyglot¹

First recorded in 1635–45; from Medieval Latin polyglōttus, from Greek polýglōttos “many-tongued”; poly-, -glot

Word History and Origins

Origin of polyglot¹

C17: from Greek poluglōttos literally: many-tongued, from poly- + glōtta tongue

Example Sentences

Los Angeles was wonderfully exotic; a polyglot mix of Aztec, Incan, Mayan and New World scents and sounds.

From The Daily Beast

As the elite polyglot sex workers entertained the foreign sailors they whispered sweet Soviet propaganda into their ears.

From The Daily Beast

And in recent decades, the Valley has become ethnically polyglot and more complex.

From The Daily Beast

One morning, he discovered the campus of a theological seminary that he now covets for a polyglot academy he dreams of starting.

From The Daily Beast

The frightened maid ceased to scold in her polyglot way and grew coherent.

From Project Gutenberg

A sweet polyglot, but hurrying; it has the notes of many birds.

From Project Gutenberg

He calls this a humble tribute to the geniality of the English summer, and thinks that he may be termed a polyglot ablutionist.

From Project Gutenberg

At this time the cars, always polyglot, are filled with shop-hands and workers, and no English at all is heard.

From Project Gutenberg

On nearing The Bow the confusion ceased; the polyglot sounds were distinguishable only as a murmur.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• linguist
• wordsmith