Byzantine Empire
Preserved but no longer current.
Meaning · English
The Eastern or Greek Empire, which lasted from the separation of the Eastern and Western Empires on the death of Theodosius m A.D. 395, till the capture of Constantinople by the Turks in 1453.
Era: ca. 1898 (Victorian)
Sources & notes
Reproduced from Brewer’s Dictionary of Phrase and Fable (1898 edition, public domain; archive.org, retrieved 2026-07-31; OCR text, minor errors possible). Reflects the scholarship and attitudes of its era.
Common questions
What does “Byzantine Empire” mean?
The Eastern or Greek Empire, which lasted from the separation of the Eastern and Western Empires on the death of Theodosius m A.D. 395, till the capture of Constantinople by the Turks in 1453.
Is “Byzantine Empire” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.