stylite

noun

sty·​lite ˈstī-ˌlīt How to pronounce stylite (audio)
: a Christian ascetic living atop a pillar
stylitic adjective

Examples of stylite in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web In the story about the columns, they are said to have originated with a fiery seventeenth-century preacher, but the whole notion obviously owes something to the stylites, those early Christian ascetics who lived on top of pillars in the desert. Charles McGrath, The New Yorker, 7 Aug. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'stylite.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Late Greek stylitēs, from Greek stylos pillar — more at steer

First Known Use

circa 1638, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of stylite was circa 1638

Dictionary Entries Near stylite

Cite this Entry

“Stylite.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stylite. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on stylite

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!