Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition


Byzantine

{

Byz′ant

,

Byz′an-tine

(-ăn′tīn)
Noun.
}
[OE.
besant
,
besaunt
, F.
besant
, fr. LL.
Byzantius
,
Byzantinus
, fr.
Byzantium
.]
(Numis.)
A gold coin, so called from being coined at
Byzantium
. See
Bezant
.

By-zan′tine

(bĭ-zăn′tĭn)
,
Adj.
Of or pertaining to
Byzantium
.
–
Noun.
A native or inhabitant of
Byzantium
, now
Constantinople
; sometimes, applied to an inhabitant of the modern city of Constantinople.
[Written also
Bizantine
.]
Byzantine church
,
the Eastern or Greek church, as distinguished from the Western or Roman or Latin church. See under
Greek
.
–
Byzantine empire
,
the Eastern Roman or Greek empire from
a. d.
364 or
a. d.
395 to the capture of Constantinople by the Turks,
a. d.
1453.
–
Byzantine historians
,
historians and writers (Zonaras, Procopius, etc.) who lived in the Byzantine empire.
P. Cyc.
–
Byzantine style
(Arch.)
,
a style of architecture developed in the Byzantine empire.
Its leading forms are the round arch, the dome, the pillar, the circle, and the cross. The capitals of the pillars are of endless variety, and full of invention. The mosque of St. Sophia, Constantinople, and the church of St. Mark, Venice, are prominent examples of Byzantine architecture.

Webster 1828 Edition


Byzantine

BYZ'ANTINE

,
Noun.
[from Byzantium.] A gold coin of the value of fifteen pounds sterling, so called from being coined at Byzantium. Also, a piece of gold offered by the king on certain festivals.