Byzantine

Meaning

Adj

1. Of or pertaining to Byzantium.
2. Belonging to the civilization of the Eastern Roman Empire between 331, when its capital was moved to Constantinople, and 1453, when that capital was conquered by the Turks and ultimately renamed Istanbul.
3. Of a style of architecture prevalent in the Eastern Empire down to 1453, marked by the round arch springing from columns or piers, the dome supported upon pendentives, capitals elaborately sculptured, mosaic or other encrustations, etc.
4. (figuratively, lowercase, often) Overly complex or intricate, especially of bureaucracy.
5. (figuratively, lowercase, often) Of a devious, usually stealthy, manner or practice.
6. Of or relating to the Byzantine Rite or any of the many Eastern Orthodox churches and Greek Catholic churches that use this rite for their liturgical celebrations.

Noun

1. (countable, historical, uncountable) A native of Byzantium (modern-day Istanbul) or of the Byzantine empire
2. (alt-of, alternative, countable, uncountable) Alternative form of byzantine (coin)
3. (countable, uncountable) A dark, metallic shade of violet.

Synonyms

byzantine

knotty

convoluted

involved

tangled

tortuous

grave

🪦

grievous

heavy

unpronounceable

arduous

serious

sesquipedalian

unutterable

awkward

tough

troublous

bitter

challenging

unfriendly

difficult

Translations

byzantin

byzantinisch

bizantino

βυζαντινός

bizantino

Byzantijns

bizantino

bizantí

Βυζαντινός

Byzantin

bizantina

بيزنطي

Pronounced as (IPA)

/bɪˈzæntaɪn/

Etymology

From Late Latin byzantinus, from Byzantium, from Ancient Greek Βυζάντιον (Buzántion). The figurative senses evoke the reputation for palace intrigue of the Byzantium imperial court.