View source for Byzantine

{{also|byzantine}}
==English==
{{was wotd|2006|November|24}}

===Alternative forms===
* {{alter|en|byzantine}}
* {{alter|en|Byzantian}}
* {{alter|en|Bizantian||obsolete}}
* {{alter|en|Bizantine||archaic}}

===Etymology===
From {{der|en|LL.|byzantinus}}, itself from {{m|la|Byzantium}}. The metaphorical senses evoke the reputation for [[palace intrigue]] of the Byzantium imperial court.

===Pronunciation===
* {{IPA|en|/bɪˈzæntaɪn/|/baɪˈzæntaɪn/|a=UK}}
* {{IPA|en|/ˈbɪzəntiːn/|/ˈbɪzəntaɪn/|a=US}}
* {{audio|en|en-us-Byzantine.ogg|a=US}}
* {{audio|en|en-us-Byzantine-2.ogg|a=US}}
* {{audio|en|en-au-Byzantine.ogg|a=AU}}
* {{rhymes|en|iːn|s=3}}

===Adjective===
{{en-adj}}

# Of or pertaining to [[Byzantium]].
# {{lb|en|history}} 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]].
# {{lb|en|architecture}} 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 [[pendentive]]s, capitals elaborately sculptured, mosaic or other encrustations, etc.
# {{lb|en|figurative|often lower-case}} Overly [[complex]] or [[intricate]], especially of [[bureaucracy]].
#: {{co|en|a '''Byzantine''' system of regulations}}
#* {{quote-web|en|url=http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2014/jul/01/icann-future-of-the-internet|title=The byzantine, meandering discussion on the future of the internet|date=2014-07-01|author=Julia Powles|work=The Guardian|passage=The '''byzantine''', meandering processes of Icann are engineered in a way that avoids any dissent surfacing, all under the reassuring guise of consensus.}}
#* {{quote-journal|en|date=November 3, 2017|author=Julia Rampen|title=A week in Pestminster|work=New Statesman|url=https://www.newstatesman.com/politics/staggers/2017/11/week-pestminster-how-sexual-harassment-scandal-unfolded |passage=Those following what has been dubbed “Pestminster” may nevertheless struggle to keep up with the '''Byzantine''' internal reporting structures, the range of accusations being levied and the sheer number of MPs involved.}}
# {{lb|en|figurative|often lower-case}} Of a [[devious]], usually [[stealthy]], manner or practice.
#* {{RQ:Bolton Room|239|I never went through a time when more people told me not to trust other people on an issue.  Perhaps they were all right. The internal politics were '''byzantine''', much of it played out in the media.}}
# {{lb|en|Eastern Orthodoxy|Catholic}} Of or relating to the {{w|Byzantine Rite}} or any of the many [[Eastern Orthodox]] churches and [[Greek Catholic]] churches that use this rite for their liturgical celebrations.
#* {{RQ:Wharton In Morocco|page=180|passage=This was the crowning incident of our visit, and I wondered with what '''Byzantine''' ritual the Anointed One fresh from the exercise of his priestly functions would be received among his women.}}

====Synonyms====
* {{l|en|Byzantiac}} {{qual|rare}}

====Derived terms====
{{der3|en
|Byzantine Empire
|Byzantinist
|Byzantine attack
|Byzantine fault tolerance
}}

====Translations====
{{trans-top|of or pertaining to Byzantium}}
* Arabic: {{t|ar|بِيزَنْطِيّ}}
* Armenian: {{t+|hy|բյուզանդական}}
* Asturian: {{t|ast|bizantín}}
* Belarusian: {{t|be|візанты́йскі}}
* Catalan: {{t+|ca|bizantí}}
* Czech: {{t+|cs|byzantský}}
* Danish: {{t|da|byzantinsk}}
* Dutch: {{t+|nl|Byzantijns}}
* Finnish: {{t+|fi|bysanttilainen}}
* French: {{t+|fr|byzantin}}
* Galician: {{t+|gl|bizantino}}
* German: {{t+|de|byzantinisch}}
* Greek: {{t+|el|βυζαντινός}}
* Hungarian: {{t+|hu|bizánci}}
* Irish: {{t|ga|Biosántach}}
* Italian: {{t+|it|bizantino}}
* Latvian: {{t|lv|bizantisks}}
* Macedonian: {{t|mk|византиски}}
* Malay: {{t|ms|Bizantium}}
* Middle Persian: {{t|pal|𐭧𐭫𐭥𐭬𐭠𐭣𐭩𐭪|ts=hrōmāyīg|sc=Phli}}
* Norwegian:
*: Bokmål: {{t|nb|bysantinsk}}
*: Nynorsk: {{t|nn|bysantinsk}}
* Occitan: {{t|oc|bizantin}}
* Polish: {{t+|pl|bizantyjski}}, {{t+|pl|bizantyński}}
* Portuguese: {{t+|pt|bizantino}}
* Romanian: {{t+|ro|bizantin}}
* Russian: {{t+|ru|византи́йский}}
* Serbo-Croatian: {{t+|sh|bizàntīnskī}}
* Slovene: {{t+|sl|bizantínski}}
* Spanish: {{t+|es|bizantino}}
* Swedish: {{t+|sv|bysantinsk}}
* Turkish: {{t|tr|Bizans}}
* Ukrainian: {{t|uk|візанті́йський}}
* Welsh: {{t|cy|Bysantaidd}}
{{trans-bottom}}

{{trans-top|belonging to the civilisation of the Eastern-Roman empire}}
* Arabic: {{t|ar|بِيزَنْطِيّ}}
* Armenian: {{t+|hy|բյուզանդական}}
* Catalan: {{t+|ca|bizantí}}
* Danish: {{t|da|byzantinsk}}
* Finnish: {{t+|fi|bysanttilainen}}
* French: {{t+|fr|byzantin}}
* Greek:
*: Ancient Greek: {{t|grc|Βῡζᾰντῐᾰκός}}
* Hebrew: {{t|he|ביזנטי}}
* Hungarian: {{t+|hu|bizánci}}
* Irish: {{t|ga|Biosántach}}
* Macedonian: {{t|mk|Византиец}}
* Portuguese: {{t+|pt|bizantino}}
* Romanian: {{t+|ro|bizantin}}
* Russian: {{t+|ru|византи́ец}}
* Serbo-Croatian: {{t+|sh|Bizantínac}}
* Spanish: {{t+|es|bizantino}}
* Turkish: {{t|tr|Bizans}}
{{trans-bottom}}

{{trans-top|overly complex or intricate}}
* Asturian: {{t|ast|bizantín}}
* Danish: {{t|da|byzantinsk}}
* Finnish: {{t+|fi|bysanttilainen}}
* French: {{t+|fr|byzantin}}
* Galician: {{t+|gl|bizantino}}
* German: {{t+|de|byzantinisch}}
* Macedonian: {{t|mk|византиски|m}}
* Portuguese: {{t+|pt|bizantino}}
* Russian: {{t+|ru|византи́йский}}
* Serbo-Croatian: {{t+|sh|bizàntīnskī}}
* Spanish: {{t+|es|farragoso}}
* Swedish: {{t+|sv|bysantinsk}}
* Turkish: {{t+|tr|karmakarışık}}
{{trans-bottom}}

{{trans-top|of a devious usually stealthy manner}}
* German: {{t+|de|byzantinisch}}
* Spanish: {{t+|es|sibilino}}
{{trans-bottom}}

{{checktrans-top}}
* Latin: {{t-check|la|Byzantinus}}
{{trans-bottom}}

===Noun===
{{en-noun|~}}

# {{lb|en|historical}} A native of [[Byzantium]] (modern-day [[Istanbul]]) or of the Byzantine empire
# {{lb|en|numismatics|nocat=y}} {{alternative form of|en|byzantine|nodot=1}} {{gloss|coin}}
# A dark, metallic shade of violet.
#: {{color panel|byzantine|BD33A4}}

====Translations====
{{trans-top|native of Byzantine Empire}}
* Arabic: {{t|ar|بِيزَنْطِيّ}}
* Armenian: {{t|hy|բյուզանդացի}}
*: Old Armenian: {{t|xcl|հոռոմ}}
* Catalan: {{t+|ca|bizantí|m}}, {{t+|ca|bizantina|f}}
* Czech: {{t|cs|Byzantinec|m}}
* Danish: {{t|da|byzantiner|c}}
* Dutch: {{t+|nl|Byzantijn|m}}
* Finnish: {{t+|fi|bysanttilainen}}
* French: {{t+|fr|Byzantin|m}}, {{t+|fr|Byzantine|f}}
* Galician: {{t+|gl|bizantino|m}}
* German: {{t+|de|Byzantiner|m}}, {{t+|de|Byzantinerin|f}}
* Greek: {{t+|el|Βυζαντινός|m}}, {{t|el|Βυζαντινή|f}}
* Irish: {{t|ga|Biosántach|m}}
* Macedonian: {{t|mk|Византиец|m}}, {{t|mk|Византијка|f}}
* Polish: {{t+|pl|Bizantyjczyk|m}}, {{t+|pl|Bizantyńczyk|m}}, {{t+|pl|Bizantyjka|f}}
* Portuguese: {{t+|pt|bizantino|m}}, {{t|pt|bizantina|f}}
* Romanian: {{t+|ro|bizantin|m}}
* Russian: {{t+|ru|византи́ец|m}}, {{t+|ru|византи́йка|f}}
* Serbo-Croatian:
*: Roman: {{t+|sh|Bizantínac|m}}, {{t|sh|Bizàntīnka|f}}
* Spanish: {{t+|es|bizantino|m}}, {{t+|es|bizantina|f}}
* Turkish: {{t|tr|Bizanslı}}
* Welsh: {{t|cy|Bysantiad|mf}}
{{trans-bottom}}

{{cln|en|terms derived from toponyms}}
{{topics|en|Byzantine Empire|Historical currencies|Coins|Purples|Demonyms}}