The word for today is…
Byzantine (adj) – 1.(a) Of or relating to the ancient city of Byzantium.
(b) Of or relating to the Byzantine Empire.
2. Of or belonging to the style of architecture developed from the fifth century ad in the Byzantine Empire, characterized especially by a central dome resting on a cube formed by four round arches and their pendentives and by the extensive use of surface decoration, especially veined marble panels, low relief carving, and colored glass mosaics.
3. Of the painting and decorative style developed in the Byzantine Empire, characterized by formality of design, frontal stylized presentation of figures, rich use of color, especially gold, and generally religious subject matter.
4. (a) Of the Eastern Orthodox Church or the rites performed in it.
(b) Of an Eastern Catholic church that maintains the worship of the Eastern Orthodox Church or the rites performed in it.
5. (often byzantine)
(a) Of, relating to, or characterized by intrigue; scheming or devious.
(b) Highly complicated; intricate and involved.
Source : The Free Dictionary
Etymology : Today, the city that lies on the Bosporus Strait in Turkey is named Istanbul, but it was once known as Constantinople (a name given to it when it became the capital of the Eastern Roman, or Byzantine, Empire), and in ancient times, it was called Byzantium. Its history is exotic—filled with mystics, wars, and political infighting—and over time the word Byzantine (from Late Latin Byzantinus, the name for a native of Byzantium) became synonymous with anything characteristic of the city or empire, from architecture to intrigue. The figurative sense referring to a devious manner of operation first appeared in the late 1930s. It was popularized by frequent use in reference to the Soviet Union, whose secrecy and despotism were equated by Westerners with what went on in the old Byzantine Empire.
If you enjoyed this BFD word of the day please consider sharing it with your friends.
