BYZANTINE

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does Byzantine mean? 

• BYZANTINE (noun)
  The noun BYZANTINE has 1 sense:

1. a native or inhabitant of Byzantium or of the Byzantine Empire

  Familiarity information: BYZANTINE used as a noun is very rare.

• BYZANTINE (adjective)
  The adjective BYZANTINE has 3 senses:

1. of or relating to the Eastern Orthodox Church or the rites performed in it

2. of or relating to or characteristic of the Byzantine Empire or the ancient city of Byzantium

3. highly complex or intricate and occasionally devious

  Familiarity information: BYZANTINE used as an adjective is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• BYZANTINE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A native or inhabitant of Byzantium or of the Byzantine Empire

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Hypernyms ("Byzantine" is a kind of...):

Asian; Asiatic (a native or inhabitant of Asia)

Holonyms ("Byzantine" is a member of...):

Byzantine Empire; Byzantium; Eastern Roman Empire (a continuation of the Roman Empire in the Middle East after its division in 395)

Byzantium (an ancient city on the Bosporus founded by the Greeks; site of modern Istanbul; in 330 Constantine I rebuilt the city and called it Constantinople and made it his capital)

• BYZANTINE (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Of or relating to the Eastern Orthodox Church or the rites performed in it

Classified under:

Relational adjectives (pertainyms)

Context example:

Byzantine rites

Pertainym:

Eastern Orthodox Church (derived from the Byzantine Church and adhering to Byzantine rites)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Of or relating to or characteristic of the Byzantine Empire or the ancient city of Byzantium

Classified under:

Relational adjectives (pertainyms)

Pertainym:

Byzantine Empire (a continuation of the Roman Empire in the Middle East after its division in 395)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Highly complex or intricate and occasionally devious

Synonyms:

Byzantine; convoluted; involved; knotty; tangled; tortuous

Context example:

tortuous negotiations lasting for months

Similar:

complex (complicated in structure; consisting of interconnected parts)