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.

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stylite British  

/ staɪˈlɪtɪk, ˈstaɪlaɪt /

noun

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

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Other Word Forms

• stylitic adjective

Etymology

Origin of stylite

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

Example Sentences

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

From The Guardian

Yet how could I shock the sweet filial heart of my cousin by a fierce lampoon or stylites against her father, had Latin even figured amongst her accomplishments?

From Project Gutenberg

Holy people, anchorites, recluses, ascetics, stylites, hermits in deserts, are no match for me in fortitude of spirit—yet even they fell in the struggle with the temptation of the diabolical flesh.

From Project Gutenberg

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 Project Gutenberg

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 Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• recluse