Meanings
plural stylites
- historicalChristianityA Christian ascetic in ancient times who lived alone on top of a tall pillar.
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.
1997, John Julius Norwich, A Short History of Byzantium, Penguin, published 1998, page 531 more example
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.
2009, Diarmaid MacCulloch, A History of Christianity, Penguin, published 2010, page 208Synonyms: pillar-saint, pillarist
Synonyms & antonyms
nounA Christian ascetic in ancient times who lived alone on top of a tall pillar.
Origin
- Ancient Greekστῦλος“pillar”
- Englishstylite
From Ecclesiastical Greek στυλίτης (stulítēs), from Ancient Greek στῦλος (stûlos, “pillar”).
More words from Ancient Greek
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Ancient Greek στῡλῑ́της, στῡλῑ́τῐσσᾰ
- στῡλῑ́της (stūlī́tēs)Christian ascetic cloistered atop a pillar
- στῡλῑ́τῐσσᾰ (stūlī́tĭssă)Christian ascetic cloistered atop a pillar
Bulgarian стълпник
- стълпник (stălpnik)Christian ascetic cloistered atop a pillar
Catalan estilita
- estilitaChristian ascetic cloistered atop a pillar
Dutch pilaarheilige, styliet
- pilaarheiligeChristian ascetic cloistered atop a pillar
- stylietChristian ascetic cloistered atop a pillar
Esperanto kolonsanktulo, kolonsanktulino
- kolonsanktuloChristian ascetic cloistered atop a pillar
- kolonsanktulinoChristian ascetic cloistered atop a pillar
Finnish pylväspyhimys, styliitta
- pylväspyhimysChristian ascetic cloistered atop a pillar
- styliittaChristian ascetic cloistered atop a pillar
French stylite, stylitesse
- styliteChristian ascetic cloistered atop a pillar
- stylitesseChristian ascetic cloistered atop a pillar
German Säulenheiliger, Säulenheilige
- SäulenheiligerChristian ascetic cloistered atop a pillar
- SäulenheiligeChristian ascetic cloistered atop a pillar
- StylitChristian ascetic cloistered atop a pillar
- StylitinChristian ascetic cloistered atop a pillar
Greek στυλίτης, στυλίτισσα
- στυλίτης (stylítis)Christian ascetic cloistered atop a pillar
- στυλίτισσα (stylítissa)Christian ascetic cloistered atop a pillar
Italian stilita
- stilitaChristian ascetic cloistered atop a pillar
Latin stȳlītēs, stȳlītissa
- stȳlītēsChristian ascetic cloistered atop a pillar
- stȳlītissaChristian ascetic cloistered atop a pillar
Polish słupnik, stylita
- słupnikChristian ascetic cloistered atop a pillar
- stylitaChristian ascetic cloistered atop a pillar
Portuguese estilita, santo do pilar
- estilitaChristian ascetic cloistered atop a pillar
- santo do pilarChristian ascetic cloistered atop a pillar
- santa do pilarChristian ascetic cloistered atop a pillar
Romanian stâlpnic
- stâlpnicChristian ascetic cloistered atop a pillar
Russian сто́лпник, сто́лпница
- сто́лпник (stólpnik)Christian ascetic cloistered atop a pillar
- сто́лпница (stólpnica)Christian ascetic cloistered atop a pillar
Spanish estilita
- estilitaChristian ascetic cloistered atop a pillar
Swedish stylit, pelarhelgon
- stylitChristian ascetic cloistered atop a pillar
- pelarhelgonChristian ascetic cloistered atop a pillar
Rhymes & wordplay
Anagrams
Cite this entry
stylite. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/stylite
“stylite.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/stylite. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “stylite,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/stylite.
Source: stylite on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.