byzantine

Where does the word "byzantine" come from? It comes from Greek Byzantion, and was adopted directly into English (1600s).

Byzantine’s story begins in Greek: Byzantion meant “the city of Byzantium.” The ancient city later renamed Constantinople, capital of the Eastern Roman Empire. It reached English by 1600s as byzantine. Broadened from the empire's name to describe excessively complex, intricate systems. Today, byzantine means excessively complicated, intricate, or characterized by devious dealing.

1. Stage 1 · Greek · ancient Byzantion "the city of Byzantium", the ancient city later renamed Constantinople, capital of the Eastern Roman Empire.
2. Stage 2 · English · 1600s byzantine "excessively complicated or intricate", broadened from the empire's name to describe excessively complex, intricate systems.