Make Your Point > Archived Issues > BYZANTINE

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connect today's word to others: I thought I knew the word Byzantine pretty well. Naturally, it means "having something to do with that European empire that had its capital in Byzantium," and it also means "complex, complicated, intricate, like a Byzantine mosaic or a Byzantine cathedral." That much I knew. But when I looked up the word to write this issue, I learned that when we call something Byzantine and we mean "complex," it's not just a reference to art and architecture; it's also a reference to politics and intrigue. Apparently the Byzantine bureaucracy was enormously complex, as well as rigid. Good to know! See if you can recall these synonyms of Byzantine: 1. D___ous things and people follow a winding, rambling path--or, they're sneaky and tricky. 2. L______thine things are complicated and confusing, like a complex set of paths or passages that's hard to get out of. (To reveal any word with blanks, give it a click.) make your point with... "BYZANTINE" The word "Byzantine" can describe anything related to Byzantium (the ancient Greek colony where Istanbul is today) or to the Byzantine Empire (which lasted from the year 330 to 1453). Above, the The Hagia Sophia, an example of Byzantine architecture--notice how complicated the design is! This photo was taken by Arild Vågen and provided by Wikimedia Commons. But here's the looser meaning we'll focus on. Because Byzantine politics were known to be very complicated, and because Byzantine art and architecture, too, are very intricate and complex, the word "Byzantine" also means very complicated or very intricate, sometimes in a way that's rigid or sneaky. Pronunciation: Dictionaries disagree. I recommend "BIZZ an teen," but you can also go with "bih ZAN tine," "BIZZ an tine," or "by ZAN teen." Part of speech: Adjective, the proper kind, so you always capitalize it: "a Byzantine process," "their system is Byzantine." Other forms: An alternate adjective is "Byzantian." The noun is "Byzantinism." How to use it: This word is sophisticated. Because it's a proper adjective, be sure to keep it capitalized. It often has a negative tone, especially when you talk about something's Byzantine structure, or about Byzantine processes, procedures, systems, networks, writings, etc. But the tone can be positive, especially when you talk about Byzantine craftsmanship or workmanship, or someone's Byzantine focus on detail. examples: When the characters started discussing their planet's Byzantine political structure in Chapter One, I put the novel down. "By launching these so-called authorized generics, Gilead said it is attempting to circumvent the Byzantine U.S. drug-payment system in which the discounts and rebates provided by drugmakers to insurers don’t always benefit consumers."    — Joseph Walker, The Wall Street Journal, 24 September 2018 study it: Explain the meaning of "Byzantine" without saying "ultra-complex" or "highly involved." try it out: Fill in the blanks: "I take a closer look, marveling at _____'s Byzantine (structure, design, or craftsmanship)." Example: "I take a closer look, marveling at the miniature wooden Ferris wheel's Byzantine craftsmanship." before you review, play: Spend 20 seconds or more on the game below. Don’t skip straight to the review—let your working memory empty out first. Controversial Catchphrases! This month, let's consider all kinds of important, ongoing controversies in our world. I'll give you a handful of key phrases that people use when they argue over a controversial question, and you try to pinpoint what that question is. I'll be drawing these issues and phrases from ProCon.org, a fantastic resource for understanding controversial issues (and for introducing those issues to your kids). From the previous issue: People who argue "yes" say things like "keeps prices down," "cost-efficient to produce," and "helps raise money for charities." People who argue "no" say things like "practically no value," "environmentally costly," and "save time on transactions." What's the question? The question is, "Should the penny stay in circulation?" (Explore this issue at ProCon.org.) Try this one today: People who argue "yes" say things like "justice," "heinousness," and "respect for the moral order." People who argue "no" say things like "human rights violation," "cruel and unusual," and "does not reduce homicides." What's the question? review today's word: 1. The opposite of BYZANTINE is A. SIMPLE. B. HONEST. C. HELPFUL. 2. Literary criticism has grown more Byzantine, _____. A. taking on a haughty tone that repels the casual reader B. bridging connections to grander themes of major social relevance C. subdividing and subdividing, some subdivisions collapsing on each other Answers are below. a final word: Make Your Point is crafted with love and brought to you each weekday morning by Liesl Johnson, a reading and writing tutor on a mission to explore, illuminate, and celebrate words. From Liesl's blog:    36 ways to study words.    Why we forget words, & how to remember them.    How to use sophisticated words without being awkward. To be a sponsor and include your ad in an issue, please contact me at Liesl@HiloTutor.com. Disclaimer: When I write definitions, I use plain language and stick to the words' common, useful applications. If you're interested in authoritative and multiple definitions of words, I encourage you to check a dictionary. Also, because I'm American, I stick to American English when I share words' meanings, usage, and pronunciations; these elements sometimes vary across world Englishes. Answers to review questions: 1. A 2. C