a. and sb.; also 6 Byzantin, 6–7 Bi-, Bezantin(e, 7 Bysantin. [ad. L. Bȳzantīnus, f. Bȳzantium: see BEZANT and -INE; cf. F. byzantin.]
A. adj. Belonging to Byzantium or Constantinople. Byzantine historians: those who lived in the Eastern Empire from the 6th to the 15th c.
1794. Martyn, Rousseau’s Bot., xxviii. 442. The Byzantine or Spanish-nut.
1817. Byron, Manfred, II. ii. 183. From the Byzantine maid’s unsleeping spirit.
1876. Bancroft, Hist. U.S., V. l. 95. The throne of the Byzantine Cæsars.
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.
1848. Mrs. Jameson, Sacr. & Leg. Art (1850), 88. Those of the Greek or Byzantine school.
1879. Sir G. Scott, Lect. Archit., I. 10. The earliest style that may fairly be called Christian is the Byzantine.
B. sb. 1. An inhabitant of Byzantium.
1836. Penny Cycl., VI. 84/2. The Byzantines at one time had 500 ships.
1875. Jevons, Money, xiv. 195. The iron money of the Byzantines … was token representative money.
2. = BEZANT 1.
1599. Hakluyt, Voy., II. 109. A Bizantin, which is … six pence sterling.
1616. Holland, Camden’s Brit., I. 421. Bizantines of silver valued at two shillings anciently.
1695. Kennett, Par. Antiq., ix. 97. Gave … one bezantine to his wife.
1862. H. Marryat, Year in Sweden, II. 248, note. Byzantines also, of gold and silver, are constantly disinterred.
† 3. = BEZANT 2.
1605. Camden, Rem., 236. The piece of gold valued at £15 which the king was antiently accustomed to offer on high festival days was called a Bizantine.
† 4. old name of some herb. Obs.
1621. Burton, Anat. Mel., II. iv. I. v. Syrup of Borage … of Fumitory, Maiden-hair, Bizantine, [etc.].
1661. Lovell, Hist. Anim. & Min., 451. Syrups, of the conditure of citron peel, and byzantine.
So also Byzantinesque a. [see -ESQUE], in the Byzantine style of art; Byzantinism, the style and methods of art (esp. of architecture) developed in the Byzantine empire; Byzantinize v. trans., to make Byzantine.
1845. Morning Post, 16 Aug., 3/4. We should ourselves rather coin a word, and call the former Byzantinesque, if not Byzantine; their resemblance to the buildings of the lower Greek empire being strikingly apparent.
1879. Sir G. Scott, Recollect., iv. 193. The Byzantinesque [design].
1855. Milman, Lat. Chr. (1864), IX. XIV. x. 331. Italian painting … threw off with Giotto the last trammels of Byzantinism. Ibid., 321. Either in Constantinople or in the Byzantinised parts of the west.
