English Explanatory Dictionary

Byzantium

English dictionary entry

Meanings

name
  1. An ancient Greek city situated on the Bosporus in modern Turkey, renamed Constantinople in 330 C.E.; modern Istanbul.
  2. An ancient Greek empire in Southeastern Europe and Western Asia, with its capital at Constantinople; in full, Byzantine Empire.
noun
  1. A dark shade of purple, close to Tyrian purple and palatinate purple.

Pronunciation

/bɪˈzæn.ti.əm/ /baɪˈzæn.ti.əm/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-Byzantium.wav

Word forms

Byzantium

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *bʰuǵ-der. Thracian *būzasder. Ancient Greek Βῡ́ζᾱς (Bū́zās) Proto-Indo-European *-yósder. Ancient Greek -ῐος (-ĭos)? Ancient Greek -ῐον (-ĭon) Ancient Greek Βῡζᾰ́ντῐον (Būzắntĭon)bor. Latin Bȳzantiumbor. English Byzantium From Latin Bȳzantium, from Ancient Greek Βῡζᾰ́ντῐον (Būzắntĭon), named after its legendary founder, Byzas.

Related words

bezant Byzant Byzantine
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