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Glite Dictionary
Byzantine Greek

Byzantine Greek

9.9
A form of Greek used in the Byzantine Empire from about 600 to 1200
  • noun
  • /bɪˈzæntiːn ɡriːk/
  • Specialized
translation icon : griego bizantino
  • Scholars often study Byzantine Greek to understand the evolution of religious texts written during the Middle Ages.

Examples

  • The liturgy in the Greek Orthodox Church is still influenced by Byzantine Greek.

  • I studied Byzantine Greek for my history class.

  • Her research focuses on the grammatical structures unique to Byzantine Greek manuscripts.

  • Many scholars focus on Byzantine Greek literature.

  • Scholars often study Byzantine Greek to understand the evolution of religious texts written during the Middle Ages.

  • Her research focuses on the grammatical structures unique to Byzantine Greek manuscripts.

  • The liturgy in the Greek Orthodox Church is still influenced by Byzantine Greek.

Synonyms

Byzantine Greek language
vsByzantine Greek
  • Specialized
9.9

A form of Greek spoken and written in the Byzantine Empire from about 600 to 1200

has identical meaning but is the more common label
Medieval Greek language
vsByzantine Greek
9.9

A form of Greek spoken and written from about 600 to 1200 AD

refers to the same period but emphasizes imperial context
Middle Greek
vsByzantine Greek
9.9

A form of Greek spoken and written from about 600 to 1200 AD between Ancient and Modern Greek

is framed by its use under an empire rather than as a stage

Surface Forms

Byzantine Greek singular
Byzantine Greeks plural

Morphology

Byzantine + Greek

The phrase combines the adjective 'Byzantine' (relating to Byzantium/the Byzantine period) with 'Greek' (the language), so a learner who knows both words can directly infer it denotes the variety of Greek used in the Byzantine era. This is a compositional, non-idiomatic label for a language variety and follows cross-linguistic patterns for naming historical language stages, making it transparent to learners.

Etymology

The noun Byzantine Greek comes from the Byzantine Empire; imagine monks in the great city copying religious books in a different form of Greek. So Byzantine Greek means 'the form of Greek used in that empire and in medieval church texts'.