Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

stylite

American  
[stahy-lahyt] / ˈstaɪ laɪt /

noun

Ecclesiastical History.
  1. one of a class of solitary ascetics who lived on the top of high pillars or columns.


stylite British  
/ ˈstaɪlaɪt /

noun

  1. Christianity one of a class of recluses who in ancient times lived on the top of high pillars

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms


Etymology

Origin of stylite

1630–40; < Late Greek stȳlī́tēs, equivalent to stŷl ( os ) pillar + -itēs -ite 1


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

A stylite was an ascetic who lived, usually for religious reasons, perched day in, day out on top of a pillar.

From The Guardian ● Aug. 18, 2012

He stopped, some paces from the column, and began to examine the stylite, wiping his face meanwhile with the skirt of his toga.

From Thais by Robert B. (Robert Bruce) Douglas

He highly approved of the extraordinary conduct of the stylite, and the heads of the Libyan Church followed, in the absence of Athanasius, the opinion of the Patriarch.

From Thais by Robert B. (Robert Bruce) Douglas

Soon the report of this extraordinary existence spread from village to village, and the labourers of the valley came on Sundays, with their wives and children, to look at the stylite.

From Thais by Robert B. (Robert Bruce) Douglas

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

Get a word


Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Look it up. Learn it forever.

Remember new words for good with VocabTrainer. Expand your vocabulary effortlessly with personalized learning tools that adapt to your goals.

Take me to Vocabulary.com