1. Of or relating to Byzantium or the Byzantine Empire: When used in this sense, Byzantine refers to the city of Byzantium (present-day Istanbul, Turkey) and the Eastern Roman Empire, which existed from the 4th to the 15th century. Byzantine art, architecture, music, and culture are some aspects commonly associated with this period.
2. Complex and Intricate: The term Byzantine can also be used figuratively to describe something that is highly complex, convoluted, or hard to understand. This usage comes from the idea that Byzantine diplomacy and court politics were famously sophisticated and challenging to navigate.
3. Devious and Cunning: Byzantine can sometimes carry a negative connotation, implying a certain level of craftiness or deceit. Here, it implies a willingness to engage in intricate strategies or manipulations to achieve particular objectives.
For example:
- Byzantine architecture displays beautiful mosaics, intricate patterns, and domed structures.
- The negotiation process was so Byzantine that it became nearly impossible to find common ground.
- Her Byzantine plan led to unexpected consequences throughout the project.
While the term generally has a neutral meaning, the context in which it is used can give it either a positive (complex brilliance) or negative (manipulative complexity) nuance.