polyglot

plural polyglots · alternative polyglott

1. A publication in several languages; specifically, a book (especially a bible) containing several versions of the same subject matter or text in several languages.

   But ſince that period the biblical apparatus has been much enriched by the publication of polyglots; […]

   1792, William Newcome, “Arguments Shewing that an Improved Version of the Bible is Expedient”, in An Historical View of the English Biblical Translations: The Expediency of Revising by Authority our Present Translation: And the Means of Executing Such a Revision, Dublin: […] John Exshaw, →OCLC, page 239

   1 more example

   [T]hose coming to the warehouses' doors fired them, and burned all the books and the pillars of the church, […] A great want thereof there will be of books, specially Latin books and foreign books; and, among others, the Polyglottes and new Bible, which he believes will be presently worth £40 a-piece.

   1666 October 14 (date written; Gregorian calendar), Samuel Pepys, Mynors Bright, transcriber, “October 5th, 1666”, in Henry B[enjamin] Wheatley, editor, The Diary of Samuel Pepys […], volume VI, London: George Bell & Sons […]; Cambridge: Deighton Bell & Co., published 1895, →OCLC, page 7

2. alsofigurativelyOne who has mastered (especially when able to speak) several languages.

   Laſtly, a polyg[l]ot or good linguiſt may alſo be term'd a uſefull learned man, ſpecially if vers'd in School-languages.

   c. 1646–1647, James Howell, “VIII. To the Right Honourable My Lord of D.”, in [Epistolæ Ho-Elianæ.] A Third Volume of Familiar Letters of a Fresher Date. […], 3rd edition, volume III, London: […] Humphrey Mos[e]ley, […], published 1655, →OCLC, section, page 15

   Synonyms: multilinguist, polyglotter, polyglottist, polylinguist

3. alsofigurativelyA mixture of languages or nomenclatures.
4. computingA file that can be interpreted validly as multiple formats.

   If you are interested in polyglot file formats, take a look at the polyglot web page in the Corkami wiki. There are various example polyglots, including a PDF file that is also a valid HTML file with JavaScript, as well as a valid Windows PE executable.

   2015, Joxean Koret, Elias Bachaalany, “Evading Scanners”, in The Antivirus Hacker’s Handbook, Indianapolis, Ind.: John Wiley & Sons, →ISBN, part II (Antivirus Software Evasion), page 148

5. computingA program written to be valid in multiple programming languages.
6. obsoleteA bird able to imitate the sounds of other birds.

comparative more polyglot · superlative most polyglot · alternative polyglott

1. Of a person: speaking, or versed in, many languages; multilingual.

   For this flyaway son of a Phœnician did not seem to wait for the decision of the polyglot Judges of the Emigration Board.

   1910 January 12, Ameen Rihani, “On the Wharf of Enchantment”, in The Book of Khalid, New York, N.Y.: Dodd, Mead and Company, published October 1911, →OCLC, book the first (In the Exchange), page 38

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   '[T]is thought the two and twenty Languages which Mythrydates the great Polyglot King of Pontus did ſpeak, wer all within the circumference of Anatolia in regard his dominions extended but a little further: […]

   1630 August 3 (Gregorian calendar), James Howell, “LVIII. To the Right Hon. the E. R.”, in [Epistolæ Ho-Elianæ.] A New Volume of Familiar Letters, […], 3rd edition, volume II, London: […] Humphrey Mos[e]ley, […], published 1655, →OCLC, section, page 77

   Esperanto is never a speaker’s only language but has to compete with their (usually stronger) other languages. As Esperanto speakers are more polyglot than average[…], this competition is even stronger.

   2022, Sabine Fiedler, Cyril Robert Brosch, “Esperanto and language change” (chapter 25), in Esperanto – Lingua Franca and Language Community, John Benjamins Publishing Company, →DOI, →ISBN, →LCCN, →OL, page 327

   Synonyms: polyglotted, polyglottic, polylingual

2. Containing, or made up of, several languages; specifically, of a book (especially a bible): having text translated into several languages.

   a polyglot bible    a polyglot lexicon

   Synonyms: polyglossic, polyglottal, polyglottic, polyglottish

3. Comprising various (native) linguistic groups; multilingual.

   A polyglot region without a clearly dominant culture may develop an artificial lingua franca, such as Pidgin English in the South Sea.

   1 more example

   Even in Switzerland, one of the most polyglot of nations, no more than 10 percent of the people are capable of writing a simple letter in English.

   1990, Bill Bryson, “English as a World Language”, in the Mother Tongue