| 释义 |
Byzantine, a. and n.|bɪˈzæntaɪn, ˈbɪzəntaɪn|
Also 6 Byzantin, 6–7 Bi-, Bezantin(e, 7 Bysantin.
[ad. L. Bȳzantīnus, f. Bȳzantium: see bezant and -ine; cf. F. byzantin. Byron has the first pronunciation, which the derivatives also follow; the second is frequent with classical scholars.]
A. adj.
a. Belonging to Byzantium or Constantinople; also, reminiscent of the manner, style, or spirit of Byzantine politics. Hence, intricate, complicated; inflexible, rigid, unyielding. Byzantine historians: those who lived in the Eastern Empire from the 6th to the 15th c.
1794Martyn Rousseau's Bot. xxviii. 442 The Byzantine or Spanish-nut. 1817Byron Manfred ii. ii. 183 From the Byzantine maid's unsleeping spirit. 1876Bancroft Hist. U.S. V. l. 95 The throne of the Byzantine Cæsars. 1937Koestler Spanish Testament iv. 75 In the old days people often smiled at the Byzantine structure of the Spanish Army. 1965Economist 25 Dec. 1404/3 From the byzantine procedural caution of the approach work [to the Common Market] on both sides, it seems that substantive issues are still beyond the diplomats' grasp. 1966G. Steiner Lang. Silence (1967) 399 It was precisely on this occasion that Stalin struck the new ominous note of the cult of personality, of the Byzantine homage to the leader. 1966Listener 26 May 765/1 To hint that one does not quite catch the drift of their byzantine prose..pierces to the heart of their intellectual pride.
b. spec. Pertaining to the style of art, esp. of architecture, developed in the Eastern division of the Roman Empire. The Byzantine architecture is distinguished by its use of the round arch, cross, circle, dome, and rich mosaic ornamentation.
1848A. Jameson Sacr. & Leg. Art (1850) 88 Those of the Greek or Byzantine school. 1879Sir G. Scott Lect. Archit. I. 10 The earliest style that may fairly be called Christian is the Byzantine.
B. n.
1. An inhabitant of Byzantium.
1836Penny Cycl. VI. 84/2 The Byzantines at one time had 500 ships. 1875Jevons Money xiv. 195 The iron money of the Byzantines..was token representative money.
2. = bezant 1.
1599Hakluyt Voy. II. 109 A Bizantin, which is..six pence sterling. 1610Holland Camden's Brit. i. 421 Bizantines of silver valued at two shillings anciently. 1695Kennett Par. Antiq. ix. 97 Gave..one bezantine to his wife. 1862H. Marryat Year in Sweden II. 248 note, Byzantines also, of gold and silver, are constantly disinterred.
†3. = bezant 2.
1605Camden Rem. 236 The piece of gold valued at {pstlg}15 which the king was antiently accustomed to offer on high festival days was called a Bizantine.
†4. Old name of some herb. Obs.
1621Burton Anat. Mel. ii. iv. i. v, Syrup of Borage..of..Fumitory, Maiden-hair, Bizantine, etc. 1661Lovell Hist. Anim. & Min. 451 Syrups, of the conditure of citron peel, and byzantine.
So also Byˌzantiˈnesque a. [see -esque], in the Byzantine style of art; Byˈzantinize v. trans., to make Byzantine.
1879Sir G. Scott Recollect. iv. 193 The Byzantinesque [design]. 1855Milman Lat. Chr. (1864) IX. xiv. x. 321 Either in Constantinople or in the Byzantinised parts of the west. |