stylite

From Ecclesiastical Greek στυλίτης (stulítēs), from Ancient Greek στῦλος (stûlos, “pillar”).

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈstʌɪlʌɪt/
• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈstaɪlaɪt/

stylite (plural stylites)

1. (Christianity, historical) A Christian ascetic in ancient times who lived alone on top of a tall pillar.

   Synonym: pillar-saint

   • 1997, John Julius Norwich, A Short History of Byzantium, Penguin, published 1998, page 53:

     Daniel, the famous stylite of the city, actually descended from his pillar for the first time in fifteen years, terrifying Basiliscus into the withdrawal of his edict.

   • 2009, Diarmaid MacCulloch, A History of Christianity, Penguin, published 2010, page 208:

     Stylites often became major players in Church politics, shouting down their theological pronouncements from their little elevated balconies to the expectant crowds below, or giving personalized advice to those favoured enough to climb the ladder and join them on their platform.

• stylitess
• stylitic
• stylitism

• Stylites (an epithet for a pillar-saint)

• Titleys, testily

stylite m or f (plural stylites)

1. stylite

• “stylite”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.

• (Classical) IPA^(key): /styːˈliː.teː/, [s̠t̪yːˈlʲiːt̪eː]
• (modern Italianate Ecclesiastical) IPA^(key): /stiˈli.te/, [st̪iˈliːt̪e]

stȳlītē m

1. ablative/vocative singular of stȳlītēs